System and method for digital signal processing

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides for methods and systems for digitally processing an audio signal to reproduce high quality sounds on various materials. In various embodiments, a method comprises filtering the signal with a low shelf filter and/or high shelf filter, passing the signal through a first compressor that, filtering the signal again with a low shelf filter and/or high shelf filter, processing the signal with a graphic equalizer based on a selected material profile, passing the signal through a second compressor, and outputting the signal to a transducer.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional patentapplication having Ser. No. 61/834,058, filed Jun. 12, 2013.

This application is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. patentapplication having Ser. No. 13/826,194, filed on Mar. 14, 2013, which isa continuation application of: (1) currently-pending U.S. patentapplication having Ser. No. 13/647,945 filed on Oct. 9, 2012, and (2)currently-pending U.S. patent application having Ser. No. 13/443,627,filed on Apr. 10, 2012.

Further, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/647,945 filed on Oct. 9,2012 is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/263,261filed on Oct. 31, 2008 (now U.S. Pat. No. 8,284,955), which is acontinuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/947,301, nowU.S. Pat. No. 8,160,274, which claims priority to U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 60/861,711 filed on Nov. 30, 2006, and which is acontinuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/703,216, filed onFeb. 7, 2007, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No.60/765,722, filed Feb. 7, 2006).

Further still, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/443,627, filed onApr. 10, 2012, is a continuation-in-part of: (1) U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 12/648,007 filed on Dec. 28, 2009 and (2) U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/048,885 filed on Mar. 14, 2008.

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/648,007 filed on Dec. 28, 2009 is acontinuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/947,301, filed Nov.29, 2007, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No.60/861,711 filed Nov. 30, 2006, and which is a continuation-in-part ofU.S. application Ser. No. 11/703,216, filed Feb. 7, 2007, which claimspriority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/765,722, filed Feb. 7,2006.

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/048,885 filed on Mar. 14, 2008 is acontinuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 11/764,446 filed on Jun.18, 2007 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,519,189), which is a continuation ofapplication Ser. No. 10/914,234 filed on Aug. 10, 2004 (now U.S. Pat.No. 7,254,243), and which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser.No. 11/947,301 filed on Nov. 29, 2007, which is a continuation-in-partof application Ser. No. 11/703,216 filed on Feb. 7, 2007.

Each of the above applications is incorporated by reference herein intheir entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides for methods and systems for digitallyprocessing an audio signal. Specifically, some embodiments relate todigitally processing an audio signal in a manner such thatstudio-quality sound can be reproduced across the entire spectrum ofaudio devices. In addition, some embodiments are directed to systems andmethods for reproducing high quality sounds on various materials throughtransducers that are not loudspeakers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Historically, studio-quality sound, which can best be described as thefull reproduction of the complete range of audio frequencies that areutilized during the studio recording process, has only been able to beachieved, appropriately, in audio recording studios. Studio-qualitysound is characterized by the level of clarity and brightness which isattained only when the upper-mid frequency ranges are effectivelymanipulated and reproduced. While the technical underpinnings ofstudio-quality sound can be fully appreciated only by experienced recordproducers, the average listener can easily hear the difference thatstudio-quality sound makes.

While various attempts have been made to reproduce studio-quality soundoutside of the recording studio, those attempts have come at tremendousexpense (usually resulting from advanced speaker design, costlyhardware, and increased power amplification) and have achieved onlymixed results. Thus, there exists a need for a process wherebystudio-quality sound can be reproduced outside of the studio withconsistent, high quality, results at a low cost. There exists a furtherneed for audio devices embodying such a process, as well as computerchips embodying such a process that may be embedded within audio devicesor located in a device separate from and not embedded within the audiodevices and, in one embodiment, located as a stand-alone device betweenthe audio device and its speakers. There also exists a need for theability to produce studio-quality sound through inexpensive speakers.

In cellular telephones, little has been done to enhance and optimize theaudio quality of the voice during a conversation or of audio programmingduring playback. Manufacturers have, in some cases, attempted to enhancethe audio, but generally this is accomplished utilizing the volumecontrol of the device. The general clarity of the voice ‘sound’ remainsfixed. The voice is merely amplified and/or equalized. Moreover, thesettings for amplification and/or equalization are also fixed and cannotbe altered by the user.

Further, the design of audio systems for vehicles involves theconsideration of many different factors. The audio system designerselects the position and number of speakers in the vehicle. The desiredfrequency response of each speaker must also be determined. For example,the desired frequency response of a speaker that is located on theinstrument panel may be different than the desired frequency response ofa speaker that is located on the lower portion of the rear door panel.

The audio system designer must also consider how equipment variationsimpact the audio system. For example, an audio system in a convertiblemay not sound as good as the same audio system in the same model vehiclethat is a hard top. The audio system options for the vehicle may alsovary significantly. One audio option for the vehicle may include a basic4-speaker system with 40 watts amplification per channel while anotheraudio option may include a 12-speaker system with 200 wattsamplification per channel. The audio system designer must consider allof these configurations when designing the audio system for the vehicle.For these reasons, the design of audio systems is time consuming andcostly. The audio system designers must also have a relatively extensivebackground in signal processing and equalization.

Furthermore, in broadcast or audio transmission applications, it wouldbe beneficial to have a split or shared processing system whereby theaudio signal is at least partially processed prior to transmission, andupon receipt of the transmitted signal, the signal is further processedto create an output signal. The output signal, in various embodiments,may be specifically tailored to the output environment, output audiodevice, etc. In particular, this scheme has the advantage of combiningdynamic range control, noise reduction and audio enhancement into asingle system, where audio processing duties are shared by the encodingand decoding sides.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention meets the existing needs described above byproviding for a method of digitally processing an audio signal in amanner such that studio-quality sound can be reproduced across theentire spectrum of audio devices. The present invention also providesfor a computer chip that can digitally process an audio signal in such amanner, and provides for audio devices that comprise such a chip.

The present invention further meets the above stated needs by allowinginexpensive speakers to be used in the reproduction of studio-qualitysound. Furthermore, the present invention meets the existing needsdescribed above by providing for a mobile audio device that can be usedin a vehicle to reproduce studio-quality sound using the vehicle'sexisting speaker system by digitally manipulating audio signals. Indeed,even the vehicle's factory-installed speakers can be used to achievestudio-quality sound using the present invention.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides for a methodcomprising the steps of inputting an audio signal, adjusting the gain ofthat audio signal a first time, processing that signal with a first lowshelf filter, processing that signal with a first high shelf filter,processing that signal with a first compressor, processing that signalwith a second low shelf filter, processing that signal with a secondhigh shelf filter, processing that signal with a graphic equalizer,processing that signal with a second compressor, and adjusting the gainof that audio signal a second time. In this embodiment, the audio signalis manipulated such that studio-quality sound is produced. Further, thisembodiment compensates for any inherent volume differences that mayexist between audio sources or program material, and produces a constantoutput level of rich, full sound.

This embodiment also allows the studio-quality sound to be reproduced inhigh-noise environments, such as moving automobiles. Some embodiments ofthe present invention allow studio-quality sound to be reproduced in anyenvironment. This includes environments that are well designed withrespect to acoustics, such as, without limitation, a concert hall. Thisalso includes environments that are poorly designed with respect toacoustics, such as, without limitation, a traditional living room, theinterior of vehicles and the like. Further, some embodiments of thepresent invention allow the reproduction of studio-quality soundirrespective of the quality of the electronic components and speakersused in association with the present invention. Thus, the presentinvention can be used to reproduce studio-quality sound with bothtop-of-the-line and bottom-of-the-line electronics and speakers, andwith everything in between.

In some embodiments, the present invention may be used for playingmusic, movies, or video games in high-noise environments such as,without limitation, an automobile, airplane, boat, club, theatre,amusement park, or shopping center. Furthermore, in some embodiments,the present invention seeks to improve sound presentation by processingan audio signal outside the efficiency range of both the human ear andaudio transducers which is between approximately 600 Hz andapproximately 1,000 Hz. By processing audio outside this range, a fullerand broader presentation may be obtained.

In some embodiments, the bass portion of the audio signal may be reducedbefore compression and enhanced after compression, thus ensuring thatthe sound presented to the speakers has a spectrum rich in bass tonesand free of the muffling effects encountered with conventionalcompression. Furthermore, in some embodiments, as the dynamic range ofthe audio signal has been reduced by compression, the resulting outputmay be presented within a limited volume range. For example, the presentinvention may comfortably present studio-quality sound in a high-noiseenvironment with an 80 dB noise floor and a 110 dB sound threshold.

In some embodiments, the method specified above may be combined withother digital signal processing methods that are performed before theabove-recited method, after the above-recited method, or intermittentlywith the above-recited method.

In another specific embodiment, the present invention provides for acomputer chip that may perform the method specified above. In oneembodiment, the computer chip may be a digital signal processor, or DSP.In other embodiments, the computer chip may be any processor capable ofperforming the above-stated method, such as, without limitation, acomputer, computer software, an electrical circuit, an electrical chipprogrammed to perform these steps, or any other means to perform themethod described.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides for an audiodevice that comprises such a computer chip. The audio device maycomprise, for example and without limitation: a radio; a CD player; atape player; an MP3 player; a cell phone; a television; a computer; apublic address system; a game station such as a Playstation 3 (SonyCorporation—Tokyo, Japan), an X-Box 360 (Microsoft Corporation—Redmond,Wash.), or a Nintendo Wii (Nintendo Co., Ltd. Kyoto, Japan); a hometheater system; a DVD player; a video cassette player; or a Blu-Rayplayer.

In such an embodiment, the chip of the present invention may bedelivered the audio signal after it passes through the source selectorand before it reaches the volume control. Specifically, in someembodiments the chip of the present invention, located in the audiodevice, processes audio signals from one or more sources including,without limitation, radios, CD players, tape players, DVD players, andthe like. The output of the chip of the present invention may driveother signal processing modules or speakers, in which case signalamplification is often employed.

Specifically, in one embodiment, the present invention provides for amobile audio device that comprises such a computer chip. Such a mobileaudio device may be placed in an automobile, and may comprise, forexample and without limitation, a radio, a CD player, a tape player, anMP3 player, a DVD player, or a video cassette player.

In this embodiment, the mobile audio device of the present invention maybe specifically tuned to each vehicle it may be used in order to obtainoptimum performance and to account for unique acoustic properties ineach vehicle such as speaker placement, passenger compartment design,and background noise. Also in this embodiment, the mobile audio deviceof the present invention may provide precision tuning for all 4independently controlled channels. Also in this embodiment, the mobileaudio device of the present invention may deliver 10 or more watts ofpower. Also in this embodiment, the mobile audio device of the presentinvention may use the vehicle's existing (sometimes factory-installed)speaker system to produce studio-quality sound. Also in this embodiment,the mobile audio device of the present invention may comprise a USB portto allow songs in standard digital formats to be played. Also in thisembodiment, the mobile audio device of the present invention maycomprise an adapter for use with satellite radio. Also in thisembodiment, the mobile audio device of the present invention maycomprise an adaptor for use with existing digital audio playback devicessuch as, without limitation, MP3 players. Also in this embodiment, themobile audio device of the present invention may comprise a remotecontrol. Also in this embodiment, the mobile audio device of the presentinvention may comprise a detachable faceplate.

In various embodiments, a method comprises receiving a profilecomprising a plurality of filter equalizing coefficients, configuring aplurality of filters of a graphic equalizer with the plurality of filterequalizing coefficients from the profile, receiving a first signal forprocessing, adjusting the plurality of filters using a first gain,equalizing the first signal using the plurality of filters of thegraphic equalizer, outputting the first signal, receiving a secondsignal for processing, adjusting the plurality of filters, previouslyconfigured with the filter equalizing coefficients from the profile,using a second gain, equalizing the second plurality of frequencies ofthe second signal with the plurality of filters of the graphicequalizer, and outputting the second signal. The profile may be receivedfrom a communication network and/or from firmware.

The plurality of filters may be configured using the plurality of filterequalizing coefficients to modify the first signal to clarify a sound ofa voice during a telephone communication, to modify the first signal toclarify a sound of a voice in a high noise environment, and/or to modifythe first signal to adjust a sound associated with a media file for ahandheld device.

Prior to equalizing the first signal, the method may further compriseadjusting a gain of the first signal, filtering the adjusted firstsignal with a low shelf filter, and compressing the filtered firstsignal with a compressor. Further, the method may comprise, afterequalizing the first signal, compressing the equalized first signal witha compressor, and adjusting the gain of the compressed first signal.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises filtering the firstsignal with a first low filter, filtering the first signal received fromthe first low shelf filter with a first high shelf filter prior tocompressing the filtered signal with a compressor, filtering the firstsignal with a second low shelf filter prior to equalizing the firstsignal with the graphic equalizer, and filtering the first signal with asecond high shelf filter after the first signal is filtered with thesecond low shelf filter. In at least one embodiment, the first low shelffilter and first high shelf filter are configured to create anapproximate 24 dB differential between high and low frequencies.

In some embodiments, the digital signal represents an audio signal thatcan be received wirelessly, e.g. to allow for more freedom of motion forthe listener when compared to wired embodiments. This signal may beinput into a personal audio listening device, such as a pair ofheadphones and these headphones may be coupled to a driver circuit.Additionally, various embodiments create a sound profile for a vehiclewhere the personal audio listening device will be used.

Some embodiments adjust the gain of the received signal a first timewith a first gain amplifier and adjust the gain of the signal a secondtime with a second gain amplifier. Various cutoff frequencies may beused. For example, the first low shelf filter may have a cutofffrequency at 1000 Hz and the first high shelf filter may have a cutofffrequency at 1000 Hz. In some examples, the graphic equalizer compriseseleven cascading second order filters. Each of the second order filterscan be a bell filter. In some embodiments, the first of the elevenfilters has a center frequency of 30 Hz and the eleventh filter of theeleven filters has a center frequency of 16000 Hz. The second to tenthfilters may be centered at approximately one-octave intervals from eachother. In various embodiments, the second low shelf filter is amagnitude-complementary low-shelf filter.

In some embodiments, an audio system comprises a personal audiolistening device, such as an audio headset. The embodiment might alsoinclude a digital processing device coupled to the headset. The digitalprocessor device may include a first gain amplifier configured toamplify a signal, a first low shelf filter configured to filter theamplified signal and a first compressor configured to compress thefiltered signal. Various embodiments may include a graphic equalizerconfigured to process the filtered signal, a second compressorconfigured to compress the processed signal with a second compressor,and a second gain amplifier configured to amplify the gain of thecompressed signal and to output an output signal. The audio system mayfurther comprise a headset driver coupled to an output of the digitalprocessing device and configured to drive the headset such that it emitssound.

The audio system may also include a first high shelf filter configuredto filter the signal received from the first low shelf filter prior tocompressing the filtered signal with the first compressor. A second lowshelf filter configured to filter a received signal prior to processingthe received signal with the graphic equalizer; and a second high shelffilter configured to filter a received signal after the received signalis filtered with the second low shelf filter may also be included.

Some embodiments include a wireless receiver configured to receive audiosignals wirelessly from a transmitter. In various embodiments, the audiosystem further comprises profile generation circuitry configured toallow a user to create a sound profile for an area by listening to musicin the area and adjusting the audio system. A second low shelf filterthat is a magnitude-complementary low-shelf filter may also be used tofilter the audio signal.

In some embodiments of the methods and systems described herein processan audio signal. This can be done by receiving an audio signal,adjusting a gain of the audio signal a first time using a separatedigital processing device located between a radio head unit and aspeaker, and processing the audio signal with a first low shelf filterusing the digital processing device. Various embodiments process theaudio signal with a first high shelf filter using the digital processingdevice, process the audio signal with a first compressor using thedigital processing device, and process the audio signal with a secondlow shelf filter using the digital processing device. These embodimentsmay also process the audio signal with a second high shelf filter usingthe digital processing device, process the audio signal with a graphicequalizer using the digital processing device, process the audio signalwith a second compressor using the digital processing device.Additionally, these embodiments may adjust the gain of the audio signala second time using the digital processing device and output the audiosignal from the digital processing device to a headset driver. Variousembodiments may connect the driver to a set of headphones, profile for avehicle where the headphones will be used and receive the audio signalwirelessly.

The plurality of filters of the graphic equalizer may comprise elevencascading second order filters. Each of the second order filters may bebell filters.

In some embodiments, a system comprises a graphic equalizer. The graphicequalizer may comprise a filter module, a profile module, and anequalizing module. The filter module comprises a plurality of filters.The profile module may be configured to receive a profile comprising aplurality of filter equalizing coefficients. The equalizing module maybe configured to configure the plurality of filters with the pluralityof filter equalizing coefficients from the profile, to receive first andsecond signals, to adjust the plurality of filters using a first gain,to equalize the first plurality using the plurality of filters of thegraphic equalizer, to output the first signal, to adjust the pluralityof filters, previously configured with the filter equalizingcoefficients from the profile, using a second gain, to equalize thesecond signal using the plurality of filters of the graphic equalizer,and to output the second signal.

In various embodiments, a method comprises configuring a graphicequalizer with a plurality of filter equalizing coefficients, adjustingthe graphic equalizer using a first gain, processing the first signalwith the graphic equalizer, outputting the first signal from the graphicequalizer, adjusting the graphic equalizer using a second gain,processing the second signal with the graphic equalizer, the graphicequalizer being previously configured with the plurality of filterequalizing coefficients, and outputting the second signal from thegraphic equalizer.

In some embodiments, a computer readable medium may comprise executableinstructions. The instructions may be executable by a processor forperforming a method. The method may comprise receiving a profilecomprising a plurality of filter equalizing coefficients, configuring aplurality of filters of a graphic equalizer using the plurality offilter equalizing coefficients from the profile, receiving a firstsignal for processing, adjusting the plurality of filters using a firstgain, equalizing the first signal using the plurality of filters of thegraphic equalizer, outputting the first signal, receiving a secondsignal for processing, adjusting the plurality of filters, previouslyconfigured using the filter coefficients from the profile, using asecond gain, equalizing the second plurality of frequencies of thesecond signal with the plurality of filters of the graphic equalizer,and outputting the second signal.

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the system and/ormethod is configured for broadcasting or transmission applications,whereby processing of the audio signal is shared between apre-transmission processing module and a post-transmission processingmodule. Specifically, in certain embodiments, the audio signal may bebroadcasted or transmitted to one or more receiving audio devices whichwill, in turn, play the audio signal. In particular, the broadcast ortransmission may, in certain applications, be long range, such as, forexample, via radio signal transmission or radio broadcast. In otherembodiments, the transmission may be short range, such as, for example,within a common studio, concert hall, automobile, etc.

In either example, the processing of the audio signal begins at thepre-transmission processing module, prior to transmission or broadcast,and ends at the post-transmission processing module, which in certainembodiments, is located at the audio device such as the receiving radio,speakers, speaker system, loudspeaker, cellular telephone, etc.

This scheme has the advantage of combining dynamic range control, noisereduction and audio enhancement into a single, lightweight system whereaudio processing duties are shared by the encoding/transmitting(pre-transmission) and decoding/receiving (post-transmission) sides. Thefinal frequency response of the system may be substantially flat, evenduring heavy automatic gain control on the encoding (pre-transmission)side. The resultant audio signal is, in most embodiments, more efficientthan the source and can be tailored to the specific listeningenvironment. Furthermore, the post-transmission processing module may beconfigured to equalize the signal in an aggressive manner to compensatefor deficiencies in the playback system or environment, due at least inpart to the controlling of the dynamic range via the pre-transmissionprocessing module.

In another embodiment, the output signal of the present invention may besent to a transducer for vibrating materials, e.g. surfaces includingbut not limited to appliances, walls, furniture, windows. The transducercontemplated is not a loudspeaker. Select frequencies of the signal willbe gain adjusted based at least in part on a material profile. Thematerial profile may comprise the material type, area, density,rigidity, and any other characteristics determinative of its acousticresonance. A graphic equalizer or other appropriate device may beemployed to adjust frequency-specific gains based on a material profile.The material profile may be received by the profile module. Thefrequency-specific gain adjustment may also be performed by the postprocessing module in a broadcasting embodiment.

Other features and aspects of the invention will become apparent fromthe following detailed description, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the featuresin accordance with embodiments of the invention. The summary is notintended to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined solely bythe claims attached hereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention, in accordance with one or more variousembodiments, is described in detail with reference to the followingfigures. The drawings are provided for purposes of illustration only andmerely depict typical or example embodiments of the invention. Thesedrawings are provided to facilitate the reader's understanding of theinvention and shall not be considered limiting of the breadth, scope, orapplicability of the invention. It should be noted that for clarity andease of illustration these drawings are not necessarily made to scale.

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of one embodiment of the digital signalprocessing method of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows the effect of a low-shelf filter used in one embodiment ofthe digital signal processing method of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows how a low-shelf filter can be created using high-pass andlow-pass filters.

FIG. 4 shows the effect of a high-shelf filter used in one embodiment ofthe digital signal processing method of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows the frequency response of a bell filter used in oneembodiment of the digital signal processing method of the presentinvention.

FIG. 6 shows a block diagram of one embodiment of a graphic equalizerused in one embodiment of the digital signal processing method of thepresent invention.

FIG. 7 shows a block diagram showing how a filter can be constructedusing the Mitra-Regalia realization.

FIG. 8 shows the effect of magnitude-complementary low-shelf filtersthat may be used in one embodiment of the digital signal processingmethod of the present invention.

FIG. 9 shows a block diagram of an implementation of amagnitude-complementary low-shelf filter that may be used in oneembodiment of the digital signal processing method of the presentinvention.

FIG. 10 shows the static transfer characteristic (the relationshipbetween output and input levels) of a compressor used in one embodimentof the digital signal processing method of the present invention.

FIG. 11 shows a block diagram of a direct form type 1 implementation ofsecond order transfer function used in one embodiment of the digitalsignal processing method of the present invention.

FIG. 12 shows a block diagram of a direct form type 1 implementation ofsecond order transfer function used in one embodiment of the digitalsignal processing method of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram of a graphic equalizer used in one embodimentof the digital signal processing method of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a flow chart for configuring a graphic equalizer with aplurality of filter coefficients in one embodiment of the digital signalprocessing method of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is an exemplary graphical user interface for selecting one ormore profiles to configure the graphic equalizer in one embodiment ofthe digital signal processing method of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram of yet another embodiment of the presentinvention comprising a pre-transmission processing module and apost-transmission processing module.

The figures are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the inventionto the precise form disclosed. It should be understood that theinvention can be practiced with modification and alteration, and thatthe invention be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to theparticular methodology, compounds, materials, manufacturing techniques,uses, and applications described herein, as these may vary. It is alsoto be understood that the terminology used herein is used for thepurpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intendedto limit the scope of the present invention. It must be noted that asused herein and in the appended embodiments, the singular forms “a,”“an,” and “the” include the plural reference unless the context clearlydictates otherwise. Thus, for example, a reference to “an audio device”or separate device is a reference to one or more audio devices orseparate devices that implement the systems and methods of the presentinvention, whether integrated or not and includes equivalents thereofknown to those skilled in the art. Similarly, for another example, areference to “a step” or “a means” is a reference to one or more stepsor means and may include sub-steps and subservient means. Allconjunctions used are to be understood in the most inclusive sensepossible. Thus, the word “or” should be understood as having thedefinition of a logical “or” rather than that of a logical “exclusiveor” unless the context clearly necessitates otherwise. Language that maybe construed to express approximation should be so understood unless thecontext clearly dictates otherwise.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meanings as commonly understood by one of ordinary skillin the art to which this invention belongs. Preferred methods,techniques, devices, and materials are described, although any methods,techniques, devices, or materials similar or equivalent to thosedescribed herein may be used in the practice or testing of the presentinvention. Structures described herein are to be understood also torefer to functional equivalents of such structures.

1.0 Overview

First, some background on linear time-invarient systems is helpful. Alinear, time-invariant (LTI) discrete-time filter of order N with inputx[k] and output y[k] is described by the following difference equation:

y[k]=b ₀ x[k]+b ₁ x[k−1]+ . . . +b_(N) x[k−N]+a ₁ y[k−1]+a ₂ y[k−2]+ . .. +a _(N) y[k−N]

where the coefficients {b0, b1, . . . , bN, a1, a2, . . . , aN} arechosen so that the filter has the desired characteristics (where theterm desired can refer to time-domain behavior or frequency domainbehavior).

The difference equation above can be excited by an impulse function,δ[k], whose value is given by

${\delta \lbrack k\rbrack} = \left\{ \begin{matrix}{1,} & {k = 0} \\{0,} & {k \neq 0}\end{matrix} \right.$

When the signal δ[k] is applied to the system described by the abovedifference equation, the result is known as the impulse response, h[k].It is a well-known result from system theory that the impulse responseh[k] alone completely characterizes the behavior of a LTI discrete-timesystem for any input signal. That is, if h[k] is known, the output y[k]for an input signal x[k] can be obtained by an operation known asconvolution. Formally, given h[k] and x[k], the response y[k] can becomputed as

${y\lbrack k\rbrack} = {\sum\limits_{n = 0}^{\infty}{{h\lbrack n\rbrack}{x\left\lbrack {k - n} \right\rbrack}}}$

Some background on the z-transform is also helpful. The relationshipbetween the time-domain and the frequency-domain is given by a formulaknown as the z-transform. The z-transform of a system described by theimpulse response h[k] can be defined as the function H(z) where

${H(z)} = {\sum\limits_{k = 0}^{\infty}{{h\lbrack k\rbrack}z^{- k}}}$

and z is a complex variable with both real and imaginary parts. If thecomplex variable is restricted to the unit circle in the complex plane(i.e., the region described by the relationship [z|=1), what results isa complex variable that can be described in radial form as

z=ε ^(jθ), where 0≦θ2π and j=√{square root over (−1)}

Some background on the discrete-time Fourier transform is alsoinstructive. With z described in radial form, the restriction of thez-transform to the unit circle is known as the discrete-time Fouriertransform (DTFT) and is given by

${H\left( \varepsilon^{j\; \theta} \right)} = {\sum\limits_{k = 0}^{\infty}{{h\lbrack k\rbrack}^{{- j}\; k\; \theta}}}$

Of particular interest is how the system behaves when it is excited by asinusoid of a given frequency. One of the most significant results fromthe theory of LTI systems is that sinusoids are Eigen functions of suchsystems. This means that the steady-state response of an LTI system to asinusoid sin(θ0k) is also a sinusoid of the same frequency θ0, differingfrom the input only in amplitude and phase. In fact, the steady-stateoutput, yss[k] of the LTI system when driven by and input

x[k]=sin(θ0k) is given by y _(δδ[k]=A) sin(θ₀ k+φ ₀)

where

A=|H(ε^(jθ) ₀)

and

φ₀=arg(H(e ^(jθ) ₀)

Finally, some background on frequency response is needed. The equationsabove are significant because they indicate that the steady-stateresponse of an LTI system when driven by a sinusoid is a sinusoid of thesame frequency, scaled by the magnitude of the DTFT at that frequencyand offset in time by the phase of the DTFT at that frequency. For thepurposes of the present invention, what is of concern is the amplitudeof the steady state response, and that the DTFT provides us with therelative magnitude of output-to-input when the LTI system is driven by asinusoid. Because it is well-known that any input signal may beexpressed as a linear combination of sinusoids (the Fourierdecomposition theorem), the DTFT can give the response for arbitraryinput signals. Qualitatively, the DTFT shows how the system responds toa range of input frequencies, with the plot of the magnitude of the DTFTgiving a meaningful measure of how much signal of a given frequency willappear at the system's output. For this reason, the DTFT is commonlyknown as the system's frequency response.

2.0 Digital Signal Processing

FIG. 1 illustrates an example digital signal process flow of a method100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Referring nowto FIG. 1, method 100 includes the following steps: input gainadjustment 101, first low shelf filter 102, first high shelf filter 103,first compressor 104, second low shelf filter 105, second high shelffilter 106, graphic equalizer 107, second compressor 108, and outputgain adjustment 109.

In one embodiment, digital signal processing method 100 may take asinput audio signal 110, perform steps 101-109, and provide output audiosignal 111 as output. In one embodiment, digital signal processingmethod 100 is executable on a computer chip, such as, withoutlimitation, a digital signal processor, or DSP. In one embodiment, sucha chip may be one part of a larger audio device, such as, withoutlimitation, a radio, MP3 player, game station, cell phone, television,computer, or public address system. In one such embodiment, digitalsignal processing method 100 may be performed on the audio signal beforeit is outputted from the audio device. In one such embodiment, digitalsignal processing method 100 may be performed on the audio signal afterit has passed through the source selector, but before it passes throughthe volume control.

In one embodiment, steps 101-109 may be completed in numerical order,though they may be completed in any other order. In one embodiment,steps 101-109 may exclusively be performed, though in other embodiments,other steps may be performed as well. In one embodiment, each of steps101-109 may be performed, though in other embodiments, one or more ofthe steps may be skipped.

In one embodiment, input gain adjustment 101 provides a desired amountof gain in order to bring input audio signal 110 to a level that willprevent digital overflow at subsequent internal points in digital signalprocessing method 100.

In one embodiment, each of the low-shelf filters 102, 105 is a filterthat has a nominal gain of 0 dB for all frequencies above a certainfrequency termed the corner frequency. For frequencies below the cornerfrequency, the low-shelving filter has a gain of ±G dB, depending onwhether the low-shelving filter is in boost or cut mode, respectively.This is shown in FIG. 2.

In one embodiment, the systems and methods described herein may beimplemented in a separate device that is located (e.g., wired orwirelessly) between, for example, a vehicle head unit, radio or otheraudio source and the vehicle's or other audio source's speaker system.This device may be installed at the factory. In another embodiment,however, this device may be retrofitted into a preexisting vehicle orother audio system. The device might also be used in conjunction withother audio or video equipment and speaker systems in addition tovehicle audio systems. For example, the device might be used inconjunction with a home stereo system and home stereo speakers or avehicle DVD video/audio system and it may be wired or wireless.

FIG. 2 illustrates the effect of a low-shelf filter being implemented byone embodiment of the present invention. Referring now to FIG. 2, thepurpose of a low-shelving filter is to leave all of the frequenciesabove the corner frequency unaltered, while boosting or cutting allfrequencies below the corner frequency by a fixed amount, G dB. Also,note that the 0 dB point is slightly higher than the desired 1000 Hz. Itis standard to specify a low-shelving filter in cut mode to have aresponse that is at −3 dB at the corner frequency, whereas alow-shelving filter in boost mode is specified such that the response atthe corner frequency is at G-3 dB—namely, 3 dB down from maximum boost.Indeed, all of the textbook formulae for creating shelving filters leadto such responses. This leads to a certain amount of asymmetry, wherefor almost all values of boost or cut G, the cut and boost low-shelvingfilters are not the mirror images of one another. This is something thatneeded to be address by the present invention, and required aninnovative approach to the filters' implementations.

Ignoring for now the asymmetry, the standard method for creating alow-shelving filter is as the weighted sum of high-pass and low-passfilters. For example, let's consider the case of a low-shelving filterin cut mode with a gain of −G dB and a corner frequency of 1000 Hz. FIG.3 shows a high-pass filter with a 1000 cutoff frequency and a low-passfilter with a cutoff frequency of 1000 Hz, scaled by −G dB. Theaggregate effect of these two filters applied in series looks like thelow-shelving filter in FIG. 2. In practice, there are some limitationson the steepness of the transition from no boost or cut to G dB of boostor cut. FIG. 3 illustrates this limitation, with the corner frequencyshown at 1000 Hz and the desired G dB of boost or cut not being achieveduntil a particular frequency below 1000 Hz. It should be noted that allof the shelving filters in the present invention are first-ordershelving filters, which means they can usually be represented by afirst-order rational transfer function:

${H(z)} = \frac{b_{0} + {b_{1}z^{- 1}}}{1 + {a_{1}z^{- 1}}}$

In some embodiments, each of the high-shelf filters 103, 106 is nothingmore than the mirror image of a low-shelving filter. That is, allfrequencies below the corner frequency are left unmodified, whereas thefrequencies above the corner frequency are boosted or cut by G dB. Thesame caveats regarding steepness and asymmetry apply to thehigh-shelving filter. FIG. 4 illustrates the effect of a high-shelffilter implemented by an embodiment of the present invention. Referringnow to FIG. 4, a 1000 Hz high-shelving filter is shown.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example frequency response of a bell filterimplemented by method 100 according to one embodiment of the presentinvention. As shown in FIG. 5, each of the second order filters achievesa bell-shaped boost or cut at a fixed center frequency, with F1(z)centered at 30 Hz, F11(z) centered at 16000 Hz, and the other filters inbetween centered at roughly one-octave intervals. Referring to FIG. 5, abell-shaped filter is shown centered at 1000 Hz. The filter has anominal gain of 0 dB for frequencies above and below the centerfrequency, 1000 Hz, a gain of −G dB at 1000 Hz, and a bell-shapedresponse in the region around 1000 Hz.

The shape of the filter is characterized by a single parameter: thequality factor, Q. The quality factor is defined as the ratio of thefilter's center frequency to its 3-dB bandwidth, B, where the 3-dBbandwidth is illustrated as in the figure: the difference in Hz betweenthe two frequencies at which the filter's response crosses the −3 dBpoint.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example graphic equalizer block 600 according toone embodiment of the present invention. Referring now to FIG. 6,graphic equalizer 600 consists of a cascaded bank of eleven second-orderfilters, F₁(z), F₂(z), . . . , F₁₁(z). In one embodiment, graphicequalizer 107 (as shown in FIG. 1) is implemented as graphic equalizer600.

One embodiment may have eleven second-order filters which can becomputed from formulas that resemble this one:

${F(z)} = \frac{b_{0} + {b_{1}z^{- 1}} + {b_{2}z^{- 2}}}{1 + {a_{1}z^{- 1}} + {a_{2}z^{- 2}}}$

Using such an equation results in one problem: each of the fivecoefficients above, {b₀, b₁, b₂, a₁, a₂} depends directly on the qualityfactor, Q, and the gain, G. This means that for the filter to betunable, that is, to have variable Q and G, all five coefficients mustbe recomputed in real-time. This can be problematic, as suchcalculations could easily consume the memory available to performgraphic equalizer 107 and create problems of excessive delay or fault,which is unacceptable. This problem can be avoided by utilizing theMitra-Regalia Realization.

A very important result from the theory of digital signal processing(DSP) is used to implement the filters used in digital signal processingmethod 100. This result states that a wide variety of filters(particularly the ones used in digital signal processing method 100) canbe decomposed as the weighted sum of an allpass filter and a feedforward branch from the input. The importance of this result will becomeclear. For the time being, suppose that a second-order transferfunction, H(z), is being implemented to describes a bell filter centeredat fc with quality factor Q and sampling frequency Fs by

${H(z)} = \frac{b_{0} + {b_{1}z^{- 1}} + {b_{2}z^{- 2}}}{1 + {a_{1}z^{- 1}} + {a_{2}z^{- 2}}}$

Ancillary quantities k1, k2 can be defined by

$k_{1} = \frac{1 - {\tan \; \left( \frac{\pi \; f_{c}}{{QF}_{s}} \right)}}{1 + {\tan \left( \frac{\pi \; f_{c}}{{QF}_{s}} \right)}}$$k_{2} = {{- \cos}\; \left( \frac{2\pi \; f_{c}}{F_{s}} \right)}$

and transfer function, A(z) can be defined by

${A(z)} = \frac{k_{2} + {{k_{1}\left( {1 + k_{2}} \right)}z^{- 1}} + z^{- 2}}{1 + {{k_{1}\left( {1 + k_{2}} \right)}z^{- 1}} + {k_{2}z^{- 2}}}$

A(z) can be verified to be an allpass filter. This means that theamplitude of A(z) is constant for all frequencies, with only the phasechanging as a function of frequency. A(z) can be used as a buildingblock for each bell-shaped filter. The following very important resultcan be shown:

${H(z)} = {{\frac{1}{2}\left( {1 + G} \right){A(z)}} + {\frac{1}{2}\left( {1 - G} \right)}}$

This is the crux of the Mitra-Regalia realization. A bell filter withtunable gain can be implemented to show the inclusion of the gain G in avery explicit way. This is illustrated in FIG. 7, which illustrates anexample filter constructed using the Mitra-Regalia realization accordingto one embodiment of the present invention.

There is a very good reason for decomposing the filter in such anon-intuitive manner. Referring to the above equation, every one of thea and b coefficients needs to be re-computed whenever G gets changed(i.e., whenever one of the graphic EQ “slider” is moved). Although thecalculations that need to be performed for the a and b coefficients havenot been shown, they are very complex and time-consuming and it simplyis not practical to recompute them in real time. However, in a typicalgraphic EQ, the gain G and quality factor Q remain constant and only Gis allowed to vary. A(z) does not depend in any way on the gain, G andthat if Q and the center-frequency fc remain fixed (as they do in agraphic EQ filter), then k1 and k2 remain fixed regardless of G. Thus,these variables only need to be computed once. Computing the gainvariable is accomplished by varying a couple of simple quantities inreal time:

$\frac{1}{2}\left( {1 + G} \right)$ and$\frac{1}{2}\left( {1 - G} \right)$

These are very simple computations and only require a couple of CPUcycles. This leaves only the question of how to implement the allpasstransfer function, A(z). The entire graphic equalizer bank thus consistsof 11 cascaded bell filters, each of which is implemented via its ownMitra-Regalia realization:

$\begin{matrix}{{F_{1}(z)}->} & {{{fixed}\mspace{14mu} k_{1}^{1}},k_{2}^{1},{{variable}\mspace{14mu} G_{1}}} \\{{F_{2}(z)}->} & {{{fixed}\mspace{14mu} k_{1}^{2}},k_{2}^{2},{{variable}\mspace{14mu} G_{2}}} \\\vdots & \vdots \\{{F_{11}(z)}->} & {{{fixed}\mspace{14mu} k_{1}^{11}},k_{2}^{11},{{variable}\mspace{14mu} G_{11}}}\end{matrix}$

It can be seen from that equation that the entire graphic equalizer bankdepends on a total of 22 fixed coefficients that need to be calculatedonly once and stored in memory. The “tuning” of the graphic equalizer isaccomplished by adjusting the parameters G1, G2, . . . , G11. See FIG. 6to see this in schematic form. The Mitra-Regalia realization may be usedover and over in the implementation of the various filters used digitalsignal processing method 100. Mitra-Regalia may also be useful inimplementing the shelving filters, where it is even simpler because theshelving filters use first-order filter. The net result is that ashelving filter is characterized by a single allpass parameter, k, and again, G. As with the bell filters, the shelving filters are at fixedcorner frequencies (in fact, all of them have 1 kHz as their cornerfrequency) and the bandwidth is also fixed. All told, four shelvingfilters are completely described simply by

-   -   H₁(z)→fixed k¹, variable G₁    -   H₂ (Z)→fixed k², variable G₂    -   H₃ (Z)→fixed k³, variable G₃    -   H₄(z)→fixed k⁴, variable G₄

As discussed above, there is an asymmetry in the response of aconventional shelving filter when the filter is boosting versus when itis cutting. This is due, as discussed, to the design technique havingdifferent definitions for the 3-dB point when boosting than whencutting. Digital signal processing method 100 relies on the filtersH1(z) and H3(z) being the mirror images of one another and the sameholds for H2(z) and H4(z). This led to the use of a special filterstructure for the boosting shelving filters, one that leads to perfectmagnitude cancellation for H1,H3 and H2,H4, as shown in FIG. 8. Thistype of frequency response is known as magnitude complementary. Thisstructure is unique to the present invention. In general, it is a simplemathematical exercise to derive for any filter H(z) a filter withcomplementary magnitude response. The filter H-1(z) works, but may notbe stable or implementable function of z, in which case the solution ismerely a mathematical curiosity and is useless in practice. This is thecase with a conventional shelving filter. The equations above show howto make a bell filter from an allpass filter. These equation appliesequally well to constructing a shelving filter beginning with afirst-order allpass filter, A(z), where

${A(z)} = \frac{\alpha - z^{- 1}}{1 - {\alpha \; z^{- 1}}}$

-   -   and α is chosen such that

$\alpha = \frac{\left( {1 - {\sin\left( \frac{2\pi \; f_{c}}{F_{s}} \right)}} \right)}{\cos\left( \frac{2\pi \; f_{c}}{F_{s}} \right)}$

where fc is the desired corner frequency and Fs is the samplingfrequency. Applying the above equations and re-arranging terms, this canbe expressed as

${H(z)} = {\frac{1 + G}{2}\left\{ {1 + {\frac{1 - G}{1 + G}{A(z)}}} \right\}}$

This is the equation for a low-shelving filter. (A high-shelving filtercan be obtained by changing the term (1−G) to (G−1)). Taking the inverseof H(z) results in the following:

$\frac{1}{H(z)} = \frac{2}{\left( {1 + G} \right)\left( {1 + {\frac{1 - G}{1 + G}{A(z)}}} \right)}$

This equation is problematic because it contains a delay-free loop,which means that it cannot be implemented via conventionalstate-variable methods. Fortunately, there are some recent results fromsystem theory that show how to implement rational functions withdelay-free loops. Fontana and Karjalainen (IEEE Signal ProcessingLetters, Vol. 10, No. 4, April 2003) show that each step can be “split”in time into two “sub-steps.”

FIG. 9 illustrates an example magnitude-complementary low-shelf filteraccording to one embodiment of the present invention. During the firstsub-step (labeled “subsample 1”), feed filter A(z) with zero input andcompute its output, 10[k]. During this same subsample, calculate theoutput y[k] using the value of 10[k], which from the equationimmediately above can be performed as follows:

$\begin{matrix}{{y\lbrack k\rbrack} = {\frac{1}{1 + {\alpha \frac{1 - G}{1 + G}}}\left\{ {{\frac{2}{1 + G}{x\lbrack k\rbrack}} + \left( {\frac{1 - G}{1 + G}{l_{0}\lbrack k\rbrack}} \right\}} \right.}} \\{= {\frac{2}{\left( {1 + G} \right) + {\alpha \left( {1 - G} \right)}}\left\{ {{x\lbrack k\rbrack} + {\frac{1 - G}{2}{l_{0}\lbrack k\rbrack}}} \right\}}}\end{matrix}$

It can be seen from FIG. 9 that these two calculations correspond to thecase where the switches are in the “subsample 1” position. Next, theswitches are thrown to the “subsample 2” position and the only thingleft to do is update the internal state of the filter A(z). Thisunconventional filter structure results in perfect magnitudecomplementarity, 11. This can be exploited for the present invention inthe following manner: when the shelving filters of digital signalprocessing method 100 are in “cut” mode, the following equation can beused:

${H(z)} = {\frac{1 + G}{2}\left\{ {1 + {\frac{1 - G}{1 + G}{A(z)}}} \right\}}$

However, when the shelving filters of digital signal processing method100 are in “boost” mode, the following equation can be used with thesame value of G as used in “cut” mode:

$\begin{matrix}{{y\lbrack k\rbrack} = {\frac{1}{1 + {\alpha \frac{1 - G}{1 + G}}}\left\{ {{\frac{2}{1 + G}{x\lbrack k\rbrack}} + {\frac{1 - G}{1 + G}{l_{0}\lbrack k\rbrack}}} \right\}}} \\{= {\frac{2}{\left( {1 + G} \right) + {\alpha \left( {1 - G} \right)}}\left\{ {{x\lbrack k\rbrack} + {\frac{1 - G}{2}{l_{0}\lbrack k\rbrack}}} \right\}}}\end{matrix}$

This results in shelving filters that are perfect mirror images of oneanother, as illustrated in FIG. 8, which is what is needed for digitalsignal processing method 100. (Note: Equation 16 can be changed to makea high-shelving filter by changing the sign on the (1−G)/2 term). FIG. 8illustrates the effect of a magnitude-complementary low-shelf filterimplemented by an embodiment of the present invention.

Each of the compressors 104, 108 is a dynamic range compressor designedto alter the dynamic range of a signal by reducing the ratio between thesignal's peak level and its average level. A compressor is characterizedby four quantities: the attack time, Tatt, the release time, Trel, thethreshold, KT, and the ratio, r. In brief, the envelope of the signal istracked by an algorithm that gives a rough “outline” of the signal'slevel. Once that level surpasses the threshold, KT, for a period of timeequal to Tatt, the compressor decreases the level of the signal by theratio r dB for every dB above KT. Once the envelope of the signal fallsbelow KT for a period equal to the release time, Trel, the compressorstops decreasing the level. FIG. 10 illustrates a static transfercharacteristic (relationship between output and input levels) of acompressor implemented in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention.

It is instructive to examine closely the static transfer characteristic.Assume that the signal's level, L[k] at instant k has been somehowcomputed. For instructive purposes, a one single static level, L, willbe considered. If L is below the compressor's trigger threshold, KT, thecompressor does nothing and allows the signal through unchanged. If,however, L is greater than KT, the compressor attenuates the inputsignal by r dB for every dB by which the level L exceeds KT.

It is instructive to consider an instance where L is greater than KT,which means that 20 log₁₀(L)>20 log₁₀(KT). In such an instance, theexcess gain, i.e., the amount in dB by which the level exceeds thethreshold, is: g_(excess)=20 log₁₀(L)−20 log₁₀(KT). As the compressorattenuates the input by r dB for every dB of excess gain, the gainreduction, gR, can be expressed as

${gR} = {\frac{g_{excess}}{R} = {\frac{1}{R} \cdot \left( {{20\mspace{11mu} {\log_{10}(L)}} - {20\mspace{11mu} {\log_{10}({KT})}}} \right)}}$

From that, it follows that that with the output of the compressor, ygiven by 20 log₁₀(y)=gR*20 log₁₀(x), that the desired output-to-inputrelationship is satisfied.

Conversion of this equation to the linear, as opposed to thelogarithmic, domain yields the following:

$y = {\left( 10^{\log_{10}{(x)}} \right)\frac{1}{R}\left( {{\log_{10}(L)} - {\log_{10}({KT})}} \right)}$

The most important part of the compressor algorithm is determining ameaningful estimate of the signal's level. This is accomplished in afairly straightforward way: a running “integration” of the signal'sabsolute value is kept, where the rate at which the level is integratedis determined by the desired attack time. When the instantaneous levelof the signal drops below the present integrated level, the integratedlevel is allowed to drop at a rate determined by the release time. Givenattack and release times Tatt and Trel, the equation used to keep trackof the level, L[k] is given by

${L\lbrack k\rbrack} = \left\{ {{\begin{matrix}{{\left( {1 - \alpha_{att}} \right){{{x\lbrack k\rbrack} + {\alpha_{att}{L\left\lbrack {k - 1} \right\rbrack}\mspace{14mu} {for}\mspace{14mu} {{x\lbrack k\rbrack}}}} \geq {L\left\lbrack {k - 1} \right\rbrack}}}\;} \\{\left( {1 - \alpha_{rel}} \right){{{x\lbrack k\rbrack} + {\alpha_{rel}{L\left\lbrack {k - 1} \right\rbrack}\mspace{14mu} {for}\mspace{14mu} {{x\lbrack k\rbrack}}}} < {L\left\lbrack {k - 1} \right\rbrack}}}\end{matrix}{where}\alpha_{att}} = {{{\exp \left( \frac{1}{F_{g}T_{att}} \right)}{and}\alpha_{rel}} = {\exp \left( \frac{1}{5\; F_{g}T_{rel}} \right)}}} \right.$

At every point of the level calculation as described above, L[k] ascomputed is compared to the threshold KT, and if L[k] is greater thanKT, the input signal, x[k], is scaled by an amount that is proportionalto the amount by which the level exceeds the threshold. The constant ofproportionality is equal to the compressor ratio, r. After a great dealof mathematical manipulation, the following relationship between theinput and the output of the compressor is established:

With the level L[k] as computed using, for example, the equation forL[k], above, the quantity Gexcess by is computed as

G _(excess) =L[k]K _(T) ⁻¹

which represents the amount of excess gain. If the excess gain is lessthan one, the input signal is not changed and passed through to theoutput. In the event that the excess gain exceeds one, the gainreduction, GR is computed by:

$G_{R} = {{\left( G_{excess} \right)\frac{1 - r}{r}} = \left( {{L\lbrack k\rbrack}K_{T}^{- 1}} \right)^{\frac{1 - r}{r}}}$

and then the input signal is scaled by GR and sent to the output:

output[k]=G _(R) x[k]

Through this procedure, an output signal whose level increases by 1/r dBfor every 1 dB increase in the input signal's level is created.

In practice, computing the inverse K_(T) ⁻¹ for the above equations canbe time consuming, as certain computer chips are very bad at division inreal-time. As KT is known in advance and it only changes when the userchanges it, a pre-computed table of K_(T) ⁻¹ values can be stored inmemory and used as needed. Similarly, the exponentiation operation inthe above equation calculating GR is extremely difficult to perform inreal time, so pre-computed values can be used as an approximation. Sincequantity GR is only of concern when Gexcess is greater than unity, alist of, say, 100 values of GR, pre-computed at integer values of GRfrom GR=1 to GR=100 can be created for every possible value of ratio r.For non-integer values of GR (almost all of them), the quantity in theabove equation calculating GR can be approximated in the following way.Let interp be the amount by which Gexcess exceeds the nearest integralvalue of Gexcess. In other words,

interp=G _(excess)−[(G _(excess))]

and let GR,0 and GR,1 refer to the pre-computed values

$G_{R,0} = \left\lfloor \left( G_{excess} \right) \right\rfloor^{\frac{1 - r}{r}}$and$G_{R,1} = \left\lfloor \left( {1 + G_{excess}} \right) \right\rfloor^{\frac{1 - r}{r}}$

Linear interpolation may then be used to compute an approximation of GRas follows:

G _(R) =G _(R,0)interp*(G _(R,1) −G _(R,0))

The error between the true value of GR and the approximation in theabove equation can be shown to be insignificant for the purposes of thepresent invention. Furthermore, the computation of the approximate valueof GR requires only a few arithmetic cycles and several reads frompre-computed tables. In one embodiment, tables for six different valuesof ratio, r, and for 100 integral points of Gexcess may be stored inmemory. In such an embodiment, the entire memory usage is only 600 wordsof memory, which can be much more palatable than the many hundred cyclesof computation that would be necessary to calculate the true value of GRdirectly. This is a major advantage of the present invention.

Each of the digital filters in digital signal processing method 100 maybe implemented using any one of a variety of potential architectures orrealizations, each of which has its trade-offs in terms of complexity,speed of throughput, coefficient sensitivity, stability, fixed-pointbehavior, and other numerical considerations. In a specific embodiment,a simple architecture known as a direct-form architecture of type 1(DF1) may be used. The DF1 architecture has a number of desirableproperties, not the least of which is its clear correspondence to thedifference equation and the transfer function of the filter in question.All of the digital filters in digital signal processing method 100 areof either first or second order.

The second-order filter will be examined in detail first. As discussedabove, the transfer function implemented in the second-order filter isgiven by

${H(z)} = \frac{b_{0} + {b_{1}z^{- 1}} + {b_{2}z^{- 2}}}{1 + {a_{1}z^{- 1}} + {a_{2}z^{- 2}}}$

which corresponds to the difference equation

y[k]=b ₀ x[k]+b ₁ x[k−1]+b ₂ x[k−2]−a ₁ y[k−1]−a ₂ y[k−2]

FIG. 11 illustrates the DF1 architecture for a second-order filteraccording to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG.11, the multiplier coefficients in this filter structure correspond tothe coefficients in the transfer function and in the difference equationabove. The blocks marked with the symbol z-1 are delay registers, theoutputs of which are required at every step of the computation. Theoutputs of these registers are termed state variables and memory isallocated for them in some embodiments of digital signal processingmethod 100. The output of the digital filter is computed as follows:

Initially, each of the state variables is set to zero. In other words,

x[−1]=x[−2]=y[−1]=y[−2]=0.

At time k=0 the following computation is done, according to FIG. 11:

y[0]=b ₀ x[0]+b ₁ x[−1]+b ₂ x[−2]−a ₁ y[−1]−a ₂ y[−2].

Then, the registers are then updated so that the register marked byx[k−1] now holds x[0], the register marked by x[k−2] now holds x[−1],the register marked by y[k−1] holds y[0], and the register marked byy[k−2] holds y[−1].

At time k=1 the following computation is done:

y[1]=b ₀ x[1]+b ₁ x[0]+b ₂ x[−1]−a ₁ y[0]−a ₂ y[−1].

Then, the register update is again completed so that the register markedby x[k−1] now holds x[1], the register marked by x[k−2] now holds x[0],the register marked by y[k−1] holds y[1], and the register marked byy[k−2] holds y[0].

This process is then repeated over and over for all instants k: A newinput, x[k], is brought in, a new output y[k] is computed, and the statevariables are updated.

In general, then, the digital filtering operation can be viewed as a setof multiplications and additions performed on a data stream x[0], x[1],x[2], . . . using the coefficients b0, b1, b2, a1, a2 and the statevariables x[k−1], x[k−2], y[k−1], y[k−2].

The manifestation of this in specific situations is instructive.Examination of the bell filter that constitutes the fundamentalbuilding-block of graphic equalizer 107 is helpful. As discussed above,the bell filter is implemented with a sampling frequency Fs, gain G at acenter frequency fc, and quality factor Q as

${H(z)} = {{\frac{1}{2}\left( {1 + G} \right){A(z)}} + {\frac{1}{2}\left( {1 - G} \right)}}$

where A(z) is an allpass filter defined by

${A(z)} = \frac{k_{2} + {{k_{1}\left( {1 + k_{2}} \right)}z^{- 1}} + z^{- 2}}{1 + {{k_{1}\left( {1 + k_{2}} \right)}z^{- 1}} + {k_{2}z^{- 2}}}$

where k1 and k2 are computed from fc and Q via the equations

$k_{1} = \frac{1 - {\tan \left( \frac{\pi \; f_{c}}{{QF}_{s}} \right)}}{1 + {\tan \left( \frac{\pi \; f_{c}}{{QF}_{s}} \right)}}$and$k_{2} = {- {\cos \left( \frac{2\; \pi \; f_{c}}{F_{s}} \right)}}$

The values k1 and k2 are pre-computed and stored in a table in memory.To implement a filter for specific values of Q and fc, the correspondingvalues of k1 and k2 are looked up in this table. Since there are elevenspecific values of fc and sixteen specific values of Q in the algorithm,and the filter operates at a single sampling frequency, Fs, and only k2depends on both fc and Q, the overall storage requirements for the k1and k2 coefficient set is quite small (11.times.16.times.2 words atworst).

Observe from the equation above for A(z) that its coefficients aresymmetric. That is, the equations can be re-written as

${A(z)} = \frac{z^{- 2} + {{{geq\_}b}\; 1z^{- 1}} + {{geq\_ b}\; 0}}{1 + {{{geq\_}b}\; 1\; z^{- 1}} + {{{geq\_}b}\; 0\; z^{- 2}}}$where geq_(b 0) = k₂ and geq_(b 1) = k₁(1 + k₂)

Observe that A(z) as given in the above equation implies the differenceequation

y[k]=geq _(b0)(x[k]+geq _(b1) x[k−1]+x[k−2]−geq _(b1) y[k−1]−geq _(b0)y[k−2]

which can be rearranged to yield

y[k]=geq _(b0)(x[k]−y[k−2])+geq _(b1)(x[k−1]−y[k−1])+x[k−2]

In a specific embodiment, the state variables may be stored in arraysxv[ ] and yv[ ] with xv[0] corresponding to x[k−2], xv[1] correspondingto x[k−1], yv[0] corresponding to y[k−2] and yv[1] corresponding toy[k−1]. Then the following code-snippet implements a single step of theallpass filter:

void allpass(float *xv, float *yv, float *input, float *output) {*output = geq_b0 * (*input − yv[0]) + geq_b1 * (xv[1] − yv[1]) + xv[0]xv[0] = xv[1]; \\ update xv[1] = *input; \\ update yv[0] = yv[1];\\update yv[1] = *output; \\update }

Now the loop may be incorporated around the allpass filter as per theequations above. This is trivially realized by the following:

void bell(float *xv, float *yv, float gain, float *input, float *output){ allpass(xv, yv, input, output); *output = 0.5 * (1.0−gain) *(*output) + 0.5 * (1.0+gain) * (*input); }

More concisely, the previous two code snippets can be combined into asingle routine that looks like this:

void bell(float *xv, float *yv, float gain, float *input, float *output){ float ap_output = geq_b0 * (*input − yv[0]) + geq_b1 * (xv[1] −yv[1]) + xv[0] xv[0] = xv[1]; \\ update xv[1] = *input; \\ update yv[0]= yv[1]; \\update yv[1] = *output; \\update *output = 0.5 * (1.0−gain) *ap_output + 0.5 * (1.0+gain) * (*input); }

The first-order filter will now be examined in detail. These filters canbe described by the transfer function

${H(z)} = \frac{b_{0} + {b_{1}z^{- 1}}}{1 + {a_{1}z^{- 1}}}$

which corresponds to the difference equation

y[k]=b ₀ x[k]+b ₁ x[k−1]−a ₁ y[k−1].

FIG. 12 illustrates the DF1 architecture for a first-order filteraccording to one embodiment of the present invention. Referring now toFIG. 12, the multiplier coefficients in this filter structure correspondin a clear way to the coefficients in the transfer function and in thedifference equation. The output of the digital filter is computed asfollows:

Initially, every one of the state variables is set to zero. In otherwords,

x[−1]=y[−1]=0.

At time k=0 the following computation is done, according to FIG. 11:

y[0]=b ₀ x[0]+b ₁ x[−1]−a ₁ y[−1].

Then, the registers are then updated so that the register marked byx[k−1] now holds x[0], and the register marked by y[k−1] holds y[0].

At time k=1 the following computation is done:

y[1]=b ₀ x[1]+b ₁ x[0]−a ₁ y[0].

Then, the register update is again completed so that the register markedby x[k−1] now holds x[1] and the register marked by y[k−1] holds y[1].

This process is then repeated over and over for all instants k: A newinput, x[k], is brought in, a new output y[k] is computed, and the statevariables are updated.

In general, then, the digital filtering operation can be viewed as a setof multiplications and additions performed on a data stream x[0], x[1],x[2], . . . using the coefficients b0, b1, a1 and the state variablesx[k−1], y[k−1].

Furthermore, the digital signal processing system of at least oneembodiment may process wireless input signals that are input into awireless receiver. The wireless signals may be amplitude modulationsignals, frequency modulation signals, digitally modulated signals, orother types of transmitted signals. The wireless receiver may beconfigured to receive the type of wireless input signal used, e.g.,digitally modulated signals, etc.

In various embodiments, the wireless receiver may receive the wirelessinput signal and condition it prior to processing by a digitalprocessing device such as the digital signal processor (DSP). Forexample, in some embodiments, high-level amplified signals may beconditioned to reduce the signal's range so that they are not outsidethe dynamic range of the analog-to-digital converters. The conditionedsignal may then be input into a DSP.

The DSP may include necessary components for processing the inputsignals as described herein. For example, the DSP may run variousdigital processing algorithms, including, for example, noisecancellation algorithms other algorithms described herein. Thesealgorithms may process audio signals to produce studio-quality sound.

The DSP may be coupled to an amplifier that amplifies the processedaudio signal and provides an output signal for the headphone drivers. Insome embodiments, the amplifier may include a multi-channelamplification section, such as a stereo amplifier. In some examples,multiple stereo amplifiers may be used.

In the amplifier, the level of the output signal may be raised so thatit may be reproduced using the headphone driver to drive audiotransducers, e.g., a pair of headphones. The audio transducer may beused to provide sound to a listener.

Headphones may include earphones, earbuds, stereophones, and headsets.The headphones generally comprise a pair of small loudspeakers, or, insome embodiments, a single speaker. The small loudspeaker orloudspeakers may be formed such that a user can hold them close to orwithin a user's ears. The headphones can include a connection device,such as a connector to connect the headphones to, e.g., an audio signalsource such as the headphone driver. In some cases, the headphones usedmay be wireless headphones. In such an embodiment, a separatetransmitter (not shown) can be connected to headphone drivers. Thistransmitter can then transmit a signal to the wireless headphone. Thiscan allow a person wearing the headphones to move about more freelywithout having to be concerned for wires, which may get in the way orlimit movement. Additionally, some embodiments may include noisecancellation headphones.

In other embodiments, a connector, e.g., a headphone connector might beused in conjunction with other, circuitry to drive other types of audiotransducers, such as speakers include full range drivers, subwoofers,woofers, mid-range drivers, and tweeters. These speakers might be hornloudspeakers, piezoelectric speakers, electrostatic loudspeakers, ribbonand planar magnetic loudspeakers, bending wave loudspeakers, flat panelloudspeakers, distributed mode loudspeakers, heil air motiontransducers, or plasma arc speakers, to name a few. The speakers may beincluded in speaker enclosures, headphones, etc.

In certain embodiments, a power supply may provide power to the circuitDSP, amplifier, as well as other circuit elements, such as the systemclocks, mater control unit, and the wireless receiver. In someembodiments, the power supply includes a battery that may store andprovide power. The power from this battery, or other power source, suchas a home alternating current power source, can be conditioned in thepower supply. In embodiments that use a battery to provide power, thepower supply may also include various circuitry to charge the battery.

The systems clocks generate and provide timing signals, e.g., clocksignals to control the timing in the device. A crystal or otheroscillator may be used to generate the system clocks. In some examples,a master clock may be divided to generate the needed clock signals.

The systems and methods described herein may include a power supplycircuit. The power supply circuitry takes supplied voltage, converts andconditions it and provides power for various circuits used to processthe audio signals.

A master control unit (MCU) can be used to control the overallfunctionality of the device. For example, in some embodiments, the MCUmay boot, run, and control other circuits in the device.

In some embodiments, the systems and methods described herein may beused in a device external to a personal listening device, such as a setof headphones. In this way, the external device may drive the headphonesand allow a listener to listen to, e.g., music. In other embodiments,the systems and methods described herein may be incorporated into a setof headphones. These systems and methods may be incorporated into, e.g.,a set of headphones via a DSP in the headphone circuitry. This may allowa manufacturer or user in the context where the systems and methods areused in vehicles (e.g., Ford, GM, Toyota, Hyundai etc) the ability tocreate a custom profile or ‘sound’ for their specific vehicles and/orbrands or types of vehicles (cars, trucks, SUVs, buses, RV's, militaryvehicles, such as tanks) and/or product lines. For example, in somecases a user might own multiple vehicles and might want each vehicle toprovide a similar sound experience when using headphones in each of thevehicles. Alternatively, a user might want the sound experience whileusing the headphones to be the same or similar to a sound experience ina particular car when headphones are not used, e.g., when a head unitand speakers are used with the systems and methods described herein toproduce, for example, studio quality sound. Accordingly, in someembodiments, the systems and methods described herein might be used tocreate the same or similar sound experience across multiple vehicles,using either headphones or speakers.

In some examples, the manufacturer or user can create profiles to suitthe tastes of their customer and the vehicles they use or purchase. Inother embodiments, the users of the headphones or other personallistening device may create there own profile by, for example, using apair of headphones incorporating these systems and methods to listen tomusic and adjusting the system based on, for example, personalpreferences. For example, when a user listens to music using theheadphones or other personal listening device, they might adjust theprocessing of the music by adjusting a first low shelf filter, a firstcompressor, or a graphic equalizer. They might also change theprocessing of the music signal by adjusting a second compressor andadjust the gain of the compressed signal after the second compressor. Insome examples, the user may adjust an amplifier that increases theamplitude of the signal into an input of headphone drivers.

Various embodiments of these systems and methods may be used inconjunction with vehicles in addition to cars, such as pickup trucks,SUV's, trucks, tractors, buses, etc. In some examples, these systems andmethods may also be used in conjunction with aviation and manneapplications. In various embodiments, these systems and methods may alsobe used in other areas were, e.g., headphones might be used to listen tomusic, for example, homes, offices, trailers, etc.

FIG. 13 illustrates a graphic equalizer 1300 of at least one embodimentused in connection with digital signal processing. In variousembodiments, the graphic equalizer 1300 comprises a filter module 1302,a profile module 1304, and an equalizing module 1306. The graphicequalizer 1300 may comprise the 11-band graphic equalizer 107. Thoseskilled in the art will appreciate that the graphic equalizer 1300 maycomprise any number of bands.

The filter module 1302 comprises any number of filters. In variousembodiments, the filters of the plurality of the filters in the filtermodule 1302 are in parallel with each other. One or more of the filtersof the plurality of filters may be configured to filter a signal at adifferent frequency. In some embodiments, the filters of the pluralityof filters are second order bell filters.

The profile module 1304 is configured to receive a profile. A profilecomprises a plurality of filter equalizing coefficients (e.g., filterequalizing coefficient modifiers) which may be used to configure thefilters of the graphic equalizer (e.g., the filters of the plurality offilters in the filter module 1302). In some embodiments, a profile maybe directed to a particular type or model of hardware (e.g., speaker),particular listening environment (e.g., noisy or quiet), and/or audiocontent (e.g., voice, music, or movie). In some examples of hardwareprofiles, there may be a profile directed to cellular telephones, wiredtelephones, cordless telephones, communication devices (e.g., walkietalkies and other two-way radio transceivers), police radios, musicplayers (e.g., Apple IPod and Microsoft Zune), headsets, earpieces,microphones, and/or the like.

For example, when a profile is directed to a particular type or model ofhardware, the plurality of filter equalizing coefficients of thatprofile may configure the graphic equalizer 1300 to equalize one or moresignals as to improve quality for that particular type or model ofhardware. In one example, a user may select a profile directed at aparticular model of PC speakers. The plurality of filter equalizingcoefficients of the selected profile may be used to configure thegraphic equalizer 1300 to equalize signals that are to be played throughthe PC speaker such that the perceived quality of the sound through thePC speaker attains a quality that may be higher than if the graphicequalizer 1300 was not so configured.

In another example, the user may select a profile directed to aparticular model of microphone. The plurality of filter equalizingcoefficients of the selected profile may be used to configure thegraphic equalizer 1300 to equalize signals that are received from themicrophone such that the perceived quality of the sound may be enhanced.

There may also be profiles directed to one or more listeningenvironments. For example, there may be a profile directed to clarifythe sound of a voice during a telephone conversation, to clarify voiceor music in high noise environments, and/or to clarify voice or musicenvironments where the listener is hearing impaired. There may also beseparate profiles for different audio content including a profile forsignals associated with voice, music, and movies. In one example, theremay be different profiles for different types of music (e.g.,alternative music, jazz, or classical).

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the enhancement orclarification of sound may refer to an improved perception of the sound.In various embodiments, the filter equalizing coefficients of theprofile may be selected as to improve the perception of sound for aparticular device playing a particular audio content (e.g., a movie overa portable media player). The filter equalizing coefficients of theplurality of filter equalizing coefficients in the profile may beselected and/or generated based on a desired sound output and/orquality.

The equalizing module 1306 may configure the filters of the filtermodule 1302 using the coefficients of the plurality of filter equalizingcoefficients in the profile. As discussed herein, the filters of thegraphic equalizer 1300 may be implemented via a Mitra-Regaliarealization. In one example, once the equalizing module 1306 configuresthe filters with the filter equalizing coefficients, the coefficients ofthe filters may remain fixed (i.e., the filters are not reconfiguredwith new coefficients before, during, or after equalizing multiplesignals). Although the filters of the graphic equalizer 1300 may not bereconfigured with new filter equalizing coefficients, the filters may beperiodically adjusted with a gain value (e.g., the gain variable).Computing the gain value to further configure the equalizer filters maybe accomplished by varying simple quantities as previously discussed.

The equalizing module 1306 may also equalize multiple signals using thefilters configured by the filter equalizing coefficients of the profile.In one example, the equalizing module 1306 equalizes a first signalcontaining multiple frequencies using the previously configuredequalizer filters of the filter module 1306. A second signal may also besimilarly equalized using the equalizer filters as previously configuredby the filter equalizing coefficients. In some embodiments, theequalizing module 1306 adjusts the gain to further configure theequalizer filters before the second signal is equalized.

In some embodiments, the profile may comprise one or more shelf filtercoefficients. As discussed herein, one or more shelf filters maycomprise first order filters. The one or more shelf filters (e.g., lowshelf 1 102, high shelf 1 103, low shelf 2 105, and high shelf 2 106 ofFIG. 1) may be configured by the shelf filter coefficient(s) within theprofile. In one example, the profile may be directed to a particularbuilt-in speaker of a particular model of computer. In this example,shelf filter coefficients within the profile may be used to configurethe shelf filters to improve or enhance sound quality from the built-inspeaker. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the profile maycomprise many different filter coefficients that may be used toconfigure any filter to improve or enhance sound quality. The shelffilters or any filter may be further configured with the gain value asdiscussed herein.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that more or less modules mayperform the functions of the modules described in FIG. 13. There may beany number of modules. Modules may comprise hardware, software, or acombination of both. Hardware modules may comprise any form of hardwareincluding circuitry. In some embodiments, filter circuitry performs thesame or similar functions as the filter module 1302. Profile circuitrymay perform the same or similar functions as the profile module 1304 andequalizing circuitry may perform the same or similar functions as theequalizing module 1306. Software modules may comprise instructions thatmay be stored within a computer readable medium such as a hard drive,RAM, flash memory, CD, DVD, or the like. The instructions of thesoftware may be executable by a processor to perform a method.

FIG. 14 is a flow chart for configuring a graphic equalizer 1300 with aplurality of filter equalizing coefficients in one embodiment of thedigital signal processing method of the present invention. In step 1402,the profile module 1304 receives a profile with a plurality of filterequalizing coefficients. In various embodiments, a user of a digitaldevice may select a profile that is associated with available hardware,listening environment, and/or audio content. A digital device is anydevice with memory and a processor. In some examples, a digital devicemay comprise a cellular telephone, a corded telephone, a wirelesstelephone, a music player, media player, a personal digital assistant,e-book reader, laptop, desk computer or the like.

The profile may be previously stored on the digital device (e.g., withina hard drive, Flash memory, or RAM), retrieved from firmware, ordownloaded from a communication network (e.g., the Internet). In someembodiments, different profiles may be available for download. Eachprofile may be directed to a particular hardware (e.g., model and/ortype of speaker or headphone), listening environment (e.g., noisy),and/or audio content (e.g., voice, music, or movies). In one example,one or more profiles may be downloaded from a manufacturer and/or awebsite.

In step 1404, the equalizing module 1306 configures filters of thegraphic equalizer 1300 (e.g., equalizer filters of the filter module1302) with the plurality of filter equalizing coefficients from theprofile. The equalizing module 1306 or another module may also configureone or more other filters with other coefficients contained within theprofile.

In step 1406, the equalizing module 1306 receives a first signal. Thefirst signal may comprise a plurality of frequencies to be equalized bythe preconfigured equalizer filters of the filter module 1302.

In step 1408, the equalizing module 1306 adjusts filters of the graphicequalizer 1300 (e.g., the filters of the filter module 1302) using afirst gain (e.g., a first gain value). In some embodiments, the gain isassociated with a speaker. The gain may be associated with the desiredcharacteristic of the sound to be stored. Further, the gain may beassociated with the first signal. In some embodiments, the equalizingmodule 1306 adjusts of the filter module 1302 prior to receiving thefirst signal.

In step 1410, the equalizing module 1306 equalizes the first signal. Invarious embodiments, the equalizing module 1306 equalizes the firstsignal with the equalizer filters of the filter module 1302 that wasconfigured by the filter equalizing coefficients of the profile andfurther adjusted by the gain.

The equalizing module 1306 may output the first signal in step 1412. Insome embodiments, the first signal may be output to a speaker device orstorage device. In other embodiments, the first signal may be output forfurther processing (e.g., by one or more compressors and/or one or morefilters).

In step 1414, the equalizing module 1306 receives the second signal. Instep 1416, the equalizing module 1306 adjusts filters of the graphicequalizer 1300 with a second gain. In one example, the equalizing module1306 further adjusts the filters of the filter module 1302 that werepreviously configured using the filter equalizing coefficients. Thesecond gain may be associated with the first signal, the second signal,a speaker, or a sound characteristic. In some embodiments, this step isoptional.

In step 1418, the equalizing module 1306 equalizes the second signalwith the graphic equalizer 1300. In various embodiments, the equalizingmodule 1306 equalizes the second signal with the equalizer filters ofthe filter module 1302 that was configured by the filter equalizingcoefficients of the profile and further adjusted by the first and/orsecond gain. The equalizing module 1306 may output the second signal instep 1420.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that different profiles may beapplied during signal processing (e.g., while sound is playing through aspeaker). In some embodiments, a user may select a first profilecontaining filter equalizing coefficients which are used to configurethe graphic equalizer 1300 during processing. The change or enhancementcaused by the signal processing of the configured graphic equalizer 1300may be perceptible by a listener. The user may also select a secondprofile containing different filter equalizing coefficients which areused to reconfigure the graphic equalizer 1300. As discussed herein, thechange or enhancement caused by the signal processing of thereconfigured graphic equalizer 1300 may also be perceptible by thelistener. In various embodiments, a listener (e.g., user) may select avariety of different profiles during signal processing and listen to thedifferences. As a result, the listener may settle on a preferredprofile.

FIG. 15 is an exemplary graphical user interface 1500 for selecting oneor more profiles to configure the graphic equalizer in one embodiment ofthe digital signal processing method of the present invention. Invarious embodiments, the graphical user interface 1500 may be displayedon a monitor, screen, or display on any digital device. The graphicaluser interface 1500 may be displayed using any operating system (e.g.,Apple OS, Microsoft Windows, or Linux). The graphical user interface1500 may also be displayed by one or more applications such as AppleItunes.

The graphical user interface 1500 is optional. Various embodiments maybe performed on a variety of hardware and software platforms that may ormay not use a graphical user interface. In one example, some embodimentsmay be performed on a RIM Blackberry communication device. In anotherexample, some embodiments may be performed on an application on acomputer such as Apple Itunes.

For example, an existing media player or application may be configured(e.g., by downloading a plug-in or other software) to receive theprofile and apply the filter equalizing coefficients to a graphicequalizer. In one example, a plug-in for Apple Itunes is downloaded andinstalled. The user may select music to play. The music signals may beintercepted from Apple Itunes and processed using one or more filtersand a graphic equalizer configured by one or more profiles (optionallyselected by the user). The processed signals may then be passed back tothe application and/or operating system to continue processing or tooutput to a speaker. The plug-in may be downloaded and/or decryptedbefore installing. The profile may also be encrypted. The profile, insome embodiments, may comprise a text file. The application may allowthe user the option to minimize the application and display thegraphical user interface 1500.

In some embodiments, the graphical user interface 1500 displays avirtual media player and a means for the user to select one or moreprofiles. The on/off button 1502 may activate the virtual media player.

The built-in speaker button 1504, the desktop speaker button 1506, andthe headphones button 1508 may each be selectively activated by the userthrough the graphical user interface 1500. When the user selectivelyactivates the button 1504, the desktop speaker button 1506, or theheadphones button 1508, an associated profile may be retrieved (e.g.,from local storage such as a hard drive or firmware) or downloaded(e.g., from a communication network). The filter equalizing coefficientsof the plurality of coefficients may then be used to configure a graphicequalizer to modify sound output. In one example, the profile associatedwith the headphones button 1508 comprises filter equalizing coefficientsconfigured to adjust, modify, enhance or otherwise alter output ofheadphones that may be operatively coupled to the digital device.

The music button 1510 and the movie button 1512 may each be selectivelyactivated by the user through the graphical user interface 1500. Similarto the built-in speaker button 1504, the desktop speaker button 1506,and the headphones button 1508, when the user selectively activates themusic button 1510 or the movie button 1512, an associated profile may beretrieved. In some embodiments, the associated profile comprises filterequalizing coefficients that may be used to configure the filters of thegraphic equalizer as to adjust, modify, enhance, or otherwise altersound output.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that multipleprofiles may be downloaded and one or more of the filter equalizingcoefficients of one profile may work with the filter equalizingcoefficients of another profile to improve sound output. For example,the user may select the built-in speaker button 1504 which configuresthe filters of the graphic equalizer with filter equalizing coefficientsfrom a first profile in order to improve sound output from the built-inspeaker. The user may also select the music button 1510 which furtherconfigures the filter equalizing coefficients of the graphic equalizerwith filter equalizing coefficients from a second profile in order tofurther improve the sound output of music from the built-in speaker.

In some embodiments, multiple profiles are not combined. For example,the user may select the built-in speaker button 1504 and the musicbutton 1510 which retrieves a single profile comprising filterequalizing coefficients to improve or enhance the sound output of themusic from the built-in speaker. Similarly, there may be a separateprofile that is retrieved when the user activates the desktop speakerbutton 1506 and the music button 1510. Those skilled in the art willappreciate that there may be any number of profiles associated with oneor more user selections of hardware, listening environment, and/or mediatype.

The rewind button 1514, the play button 1516, the forward button 1518,and the status display 1520 may depict functions of the virtual mediaplayer. In one example, after the user has selected the profiles to beused (e.g., through selecting the buttons discussed herein), the usermay play a media file (e.g., music and/or a movie) through the playbutton 1516. Similarly, the user may rewind the media file using therewind button 1514 and fast forward the media file using the fastforward button 1518. The status display 1520 may display the name of themedia file to the user, as well as associated information about themedia file (e.g., artist, total duration of media file, and duration ofmedia file left to play). The status display 1520 may display anyinformation, animation, or graphics to the user.

In various embodiments, a plug-in or application for performing one ormore embodiments described herein must be registered before the plug-inor application is fully functional. In one example, a free trial may bedownloadable by a user. The trial version may play a predeterminedperiod of time (e.g., 1 minute) of enhanced sound or audio beforereturning the signal processing to the previous state (e.g., the soundmay return to a state before the trial program was downloaded). In someembodiments, the unenhanced sound or audio may be played for anotherpredetermined period (e.g., 1 or 2 minutes) and the signal processingmay again return to enhancing the sound quality using the previouslyconfigured graphic equalizer and/or other filters. This process may goback and forth through the duration of the song. Once the registrationof the plug-in or application is complete, the plug-in or applicationmay be configured to process signals without switching back and forth.

FIG. 16 illustrates yet another embodiment of the system and methoddescribed herein. In particular, the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 16is generally configured for broadcasting or transmission applications1600, including, but in no way limited to radio broadcast applications,cellular telephone applications, and, in some circumstances, short rangetransmission within a common vehicle, studio, concert hall, etc. Inaddition, the transmission of the signal, as described herein, may becarried out via a physical medium, such as, for example, CD, DVD, etc.Other embodiments include transmission via the Internet or othercommunication networks.

Particularly, the audio signal is transmitted from one location toanother, whereby the audio processing is shared or otherwise partiallyconducted prior to transmission and partially conducted aftertransmission. In this manner, the receiver or final audio device mayfinally process the signal to suit the specific audio device, profile orlistening environment. For example, in the embodiment wherein a signalis broadcasted or transmitted to a plurality of audio devices or radios,either via radio broadcast, the Internet, DVD, CD, etc., each of thereceiving devices may have different configurations, differentqualities, different speakers, and be located in different listeningenvironments (e.g., different vehicles, homes, offices, etc.) Thus, atleast one embodiment of the present invention is structured andconfigured to pre-process the signal prior to transmission orbroadcasting, and then finish the processing after the signal istransmitted or broadcasted to suit the particular environment. In such acase, the present invention may include a pre-transmission processingmodule 1610, circuitry or programming, located at the transmitter orsignal broadcasting station, and a post-transmission processing module1620, circuitry or programming, located at or in communicative relationwith the receiver, radio, speakers, etc.

Accordingly, the pre-transmission processing module 1610 is structuredand configured to at least partially process an audio signal prior totransmission, and the post-transmission processing module 1620 isstructured and configured to process the audio signal aftertransmission, and generate an output signal. In certain embodiments, theconfiguration of the post-transmission processing module 1620 isdictated by the output audio device hardware specification, a profile asdescribed herein, and/or the particular listening environment.

In certain embodiments, the post-transmission processing module 1620includes an at least partially inverse configuration relative to thepre-transmission processing module 1610. Specifically, in oneembodiment, the pre-transmission processing module 1610 and thepost-transmission processing module 1620 both include shelving filters,e.g., a low shelf filter and a high shelf filter, wherein the filters ofthe post-transmission processing module include frequency values thatare matched or substantially equal to the frequency values of thepre-transmission processing module, but whose gain value are inverse.

In addition, the pre-transmission processing module 1610 of at least oneembodiment comprises a dynamic range modification component configuredto decrease the dynamic range of the signal, for example, viacompression, limiting and/or clipping, as discussed herein, to create anat least partially processed signal. Accordingly, the dynamic rangemodification component may include a compressor, and in otherembodiments, may include a gain amplifier.

Conversely, the post-transmission processing module 1620 of at least oneembodiment is configured to increase the dynamic range of the partiallyprocessed signal to create an output signal. It should be noted,however, that the gain values of the post-transmission processing module1620 filters may be adjusted, for example, to compensate for lostbandwidth due to lower data rates during transmission. The gain valuesmay be pre-programmed or pre-designated so maximum audio quality ismaintained at all data rates.

Furthermore, the shelving filters of the pre-transmission processingmodule 1610 of at least one embodiment may be structured and configuredto create an approximate 24 dB differential between high and lowfrequencies. The dynamic range modification component of thepre-transmission processing module 1610 may then be configured toprocess the signal from the shelving filters and decrease the dynamicrange thereof by compression, limiting or clipping. The resultant signalis the partially processed signal that will then be prepared fortransmission.

For instance, at least one embodiment further comprises a transmitter1612 which is configured to transmit the partially processed signalgenerated by the pre-transmission processing module 1610. Thetransmitter 1612 may use any transmission or broadcasting technology,including, but in no way limited to radio frequency transmission orbroadcast, wireless or wired data transmission via WiFi, BlueTooth,Internet, telecommunication protocols, etc., and/or writing the signalto or embedding the signal on a medium, such as a DVD, CD, etc.Accordingly, in certain embodiments, the partially processed signal mayundergo data compression via lossy constant bit rate (“CBR”), averagebit rate (“ABR”), variable bit rate (“VRB”), Mp3, or FLAC datacompression, for example, for transmission or storage. Of course, otherdata compression algorithms or schemas may be utilized.

Still referring to FIG. 16, the invention may further include a receiver1618 for receiving the transmitted signal. In certain embodiments, thetransmitted signal may need to be decoded, for instance, wherein thesignal was compressed or encoded via data compression prior totransmission. In any event, the receiver 1618 is structured to receivethe transmitted signal, decode the transmitted signal (if necessary),and feed the signal to the post-transmission processing module 1620 forfurther processing, as described herein.

In the embodiment wherein the signal or audio is transmitted via amedium (e.g., a CD or DVD), the transmitter may embed the audio signalon the medium after pre-processing, and the receiver (at the audioplayer) will read the medium, and, if necessary, decode the signal priorto post-transmission processing.

It should also be noted that the pre-transmission processing module 1610and the post-transmission processing module 1620 may utilize the same orsimilar components as those discussed in detail herein, and as shown inFIG. 1. For instance, the pre-transmission processing module 1610 of atleast one embodiment comprises an input gain adjust (101), low shelffilter (102), high shelf filter (103) and compressor (104). In such anembodiment, the method of processing a signal with the pre-transmissionprocessing module comprises adjusting a gain of the signal a first timeusing the pre-transmission processing module, filtering the adjustedsignal with a first low shelf filter using the pre-transmissionprocessing module, filtering the signal received from the first lowshelf filter with a first high shelf filter using the pre-transmissionprocessing module, and compressing the filtered signal with a firstcompressor using the pre-transmission processing module. The signal thenundergoes data compression for transmission, and is then transmitted toa receiver, where the signal is received, decoded and sent to thepost-transmission processing module 1620.

Similarly, the post-transmission processing module 1620 of at least oneembodiment may utilize the same or similar components as those discussedin detail herein, and as shown in FIG. 1. For instance, thepost-transmission processing module 1620 of at least one embodimentcomprises a low shelf filter (105) and high shelf filter (106), agraphic equalizer (107), a compressor (108) and an output gain adjust(109). Thus, the method of processing the signal with thepost-transmission processing module 1620 of at least one embodimentcomprises filtering the signal with a second low shelf filter using thepost-transmission processing module, filtering the signal with a secondhigh shelf filter, using the post-transmission processing module,processing the signal with a graphic equalizer using thepost-transmission processing module, compressing the processed signalwith a second compressor using the post-transmission processing module,adjusting the gain of the compressed signal a second time using thepost-transmission processing module, and outputting the signal.

In yet other embodiments, the output signal may be sent to a transducerfor vibrating various materials in order to reproduce sound within theaudible range. The transducers in these embodiments are notloudspeakers. Loudspeakers traditionally produce sound by the vibrationof a diaphragm within the loudspeaker, usually through a voice coilwhich converts electrical signals into mechanical force and therebyvibrating the diaphragm.

In these embodiments, the contemplated transducer element does not havean internal diaphragm, and may comprise a surface transducer or avibration transducer. Alternatively the transducer element may be formedof any electrical circuit and/or mechanical structure capable ofvibrating materials, which are not diaphragms of loudspeakers, in orderto reproduce sound. The materials contemplated may comprise any size,shape, density, or chemical composition. The materials may include,without limitation, a glass surface such as a window, a wood table, arefrigerator door, a wall, cabinetry, a plastic sheet, or any othersurface capable of acoustic resonance.

Variances in material characteristics such as surface area, size, shape,rigidity and density cause them to resonate at different frequencies.Thus, different materials require different power or gain adjustments indifferent frequencies or frequency ranges in order to reproduce asonically accurate signal. For example, a dense and non-rigid materialsuch as certain plastics may be able to reproduce low frequencies well,but are resistant to vibrating at higher frequencies. Accordingly, alarge increase in high frequency power is required in order to cause theplastic to vibrate, and thereby impart a sound pressure level whichaccurately depicts the sound signal at these high frequencies. Asanother example, glass is a dense and rigid material which tends toreproduce higher frequency sounds better than lower frequency sounds,and would therefore require increases in the amount of low frequencygain in order to accurately reproduce the sound signal. The gain ofcertain frequencies may be increased or decreased accordingly in orderto reproduce an accurate sound.

A graphic equalizer 1300, such as that in FIG. 13, may be employed toadjust the gains of certain frequencies of a signal in theseembodiments. The graphic equalizer 1300 may be based at least in part ona material profile, which may be received by the profile module 1304.Each material profile may comprise a plurality of filter equalizingcoefficients used to configure the filters of the graphic equalizer. Amaterial profile may be based on the type of material (e.g., plastic,metal, wood, glass). A material profile may also be based on physicalcharacteristics of a material (e.g., size, shape, dimension, density,rigidity). In at least some embodiments, a material profile may becustomized and configured by a user.

In at least one embodiment, the gain adjustment of select frequencies ofa signal may also be performed by the post-transmission processingmodule 1620, based on a material profile, as in FIG. 16. In otherembodiments, other frequency range specific gain control devices,circuits, or elements may be used to adjust a signal based on a materialprofile. In at least one embodiment, a graphic equalizer 1300 orequivalent frequency range specific gain control device, circuit, ormodule, may be static and/or preconfigured for a certain material type.

Referring back to the equations above, a first-order shelving filter canbe created by applying the equation

${A(z)} = \frac{k_{2} + {{k_{1}\left( {1 + k_{2}} \right)}z^{- 1}} + z^{- 2}}{1 + {{k_{1}\left( {1 + k_{2}} \right)}z^{- 1}} + {k_{2}z^{- 2}}}$

to the first-order allpass filter A(z), where

${A(z)} = \frac{\alpha - z^{- 1}}{1 - {\alpha \; z^{- 1}}}$

where α is chosen such that

$\alpha = \frac{\left( {1 - {\sin \left( \frac{2\; \pi \; f_{c}}{F_{s}} \right)}} \right)}{\cos \left( \frac{2\; \pi \; f_{c}}{F_{s}} \right)}$

where fc is the desired corner frequency and Fs is the samplingfrequency. The allpass filter A(z) above corresponds to the differenceequation

y[k]=αx[k]−x[k−1]+αy[k−1].

If allpass coefficient α is referred to as allpass coef and the equationterms are rearranged, the above equation becomes

y[k]=allpass_coef(x[k]+y[k−1]−x[k−1].

This difference equation corresponds to a code implementation of ashelving filter that is detailed below.

One specific software implementation of digital signal processing method100 will now be detailed.

Input gain adjustment 101 and output gain adjustment 109, describedabove, may both be accomplished by utilizing a “scale” function,implemented as follows:

void scale(gain, float *input, float *output) { for (i = 0; i <NSAMPLES; i++) { *output++ = inputGain * (*input++);} }

First low shelf filter 102 and second low shelf filter 105, describedabove, may both be accomplished by utilizing a “low shelf” function,implemented as follows:

void low_shelf(float *xv, float *yv, float *wpt, float *input, float*output) { float l; int i; for (i = 0; i < NSAMPLES; i++) { if (wpt[2] <0.0) \\ cut mode, use conventional realization { \\ allpass_coef = alphayv[0] = ap_coef * (*input) + (ap_coef * ap_coef − 1.0) * xv[0]; xv[0] =ap_coef * xv[0] + *input; *output++ = 0.5 * ((1.0 + wpt[0]) *(*input++) + (1.0 − wpt[0]) * yv[0]); } else \\ boost mode, use specialrealization { 1 = (ap_coef * ap_coef − 1.0) * xv[0]; *output = wpt[1] *((*input++) − 0.5 * (1.0 − wpt[0]) * 1);  xv[0] = ap_coef * xv[0] +*output++; } } }

As this function is somewhat complicated, a detailed explanation of itis proper. First, the function declaration provides:

-   -   void low_shelf (float*xv, float*yv, float*wpt, float*input,        float*output)

The “low_shelf” function takes as parameters pointers to five differentfloating-point arrays. The arrays xv and yv contain the “x” and “y”state variables for the filter. Because the shelving filters are allfirst-order filters, the state-variable arrays are only of length one.There are distinct “x” and “y” state variables for each shelving filterused in digital signal processing method 100. The next array used is thearray of filter coefficients “wpt” that pertain to the particularshelving filter. wpt is of length three, where the elements wpt[0],wpt[1], and wpt[2] describe the following:

wpt[0]=G

wpt[1]=2[(1+G)+α(1−G)]⁻¹

wpt[2]=−1 when cutting, 1 when boosting

and α is the allpass coefficient and G is the shelving filter gain. Thevalue of α is the same for all shelving filters because it is determinedsolely by the corner frequency (it should be noted that and all four ofthe shelving filters in digital signal processing method 100 have acorner frequency of 1 kHz). The value of G is different for each of thefour shelving filters.

The array “input” is a block of input samples that are fed as input toeach shelving filter, and the results of the filtering operation arestored in the “output” array.

The next two lines of code,

Float 1;

int i;

allocate space for a loop counter variable, i, and an auxiliaryquantity, 1, which is the quantity 10[k] from FIG. 9.

The next line of code,

for (i=0; i<NSAMPLES; i++)

performs the code that follows a total of NSAMPLES times, where NSAMPLESis the length of the block of data used in digital signal processingmethod 100.

This is followed by the conditional test

if (wpt[2]<0,0)

and, recalling the equations discussed above, wpt[2]<0 corresponds to ashelving filter that is in “cut” mode, whereas wpt[2]>=0 corresponds toa shelving filter that is in “boost” mode. If the shelving filter is incut mode the following code is performed:

if (wpt[2] < 0.0) \\ cut mode, use conventional realization { \\allpass_coef = alpha yv[0] = ap_coef * (*input) + (ap_coef * ap_coef −1.0) * xv[0]; xv[0] = ap_coef * xv[0] + *input; *output++ = 0.5 *((1.0 + wpt[0]) * (*input++) + (1.0 − wpt[0]) * yv[0]); }

The value xv[0] is simply the state variable x[k] and yv[0] is justyv[k]. The code above is merely an implementation of the equations

y[k] = α ⋅ in [k] + (α² − 1) ⋅ x [k] x [k] = α ⋅ x [k] + in [k]${{out}\;\lbrack k\rbrack} = {\frac{1}{2}\left( {{\left( {1 + G} \right) \cdot {{in}\;\lbrack k\rbrack}} + {\left( {1 - G} \right) \cdot {y\;\lbrack k\rbrack}}} \right)}$

If the shelving filter is in cut mode the following code is performed:

else \\ boost mode, use special realization { 1 = (ap_coef * ap_coef −1.0) * xv[0]; *output = wpt[1] * ((*input++) − 0.5 * (1.0 − wpt[0]) *1); xv[0] = ap_coef * xv[0] + *output++; }

which implements the equations

i₀[k] = (α² − 1) ⋅ x [k]${{out}\;\lbrack k\rbrack} = {{{2\;\left\lbrack {\left( {1 + G} \right) + {\alpha \; \left( {1 - G} \right)}} \right\rbrack}^{- 1} \cdot {{in}\;\lbrack k\rbrack}} - {\frac{1}{2}\left( {1 - G} \right){i_{0}\lbrack k\rbrack}}}$x [k] = α ⋅ x [k − 1] + out [k]

First high shelf filter 103 and second high shelf filter 106, describedabove, may both be accomplished by utilizing a “high_shelf” function,implemented as follows:

void high_shelf(float *xv, float *yv, float *wpt, float *input, float*output) { float l; int i; for (i = 0; i < NSAMPLES; i++) { if (wpt[2] <0.0) \\ cut mode, use conventional realization, { \\ allpass_coef =alpha yv[0] = allpass_coef * (*input) + (allpass_coef * allpass_coef −1.0) * xv[0]; xv[0] = allpass_coef * xv[0] + *input; *output++ = 0.5 *((1.0 + wpt[0]) * (*input++) − (1.0 − wpt[0]) * yv[0]); } else \\ boostmode, use special realization { l = (allpass_coef * allpass_coef −1.0) * xv[0]; *output = wpt[1] * ((*input++) + 0.5 * (1.0 − wpt[0]) *l); xv[0] = allpass_coef * xv[0] + *output++; } } }

Implementing the high-shelving filter is similar to implementing thelow-shelving filter. Comparing the two functions above, the onlysubstantive difference is in the sign of a single coefficient.Therefore, the program flow is identical.

Graphic equalizer 107, described above, may be implemented using aseries of eleven calls to a “bell” filter function, implemented asfollows:

void bell(float *xv, float *yv, float *wpt, float *input, float *output){ float geq_gain = wpt[0]; \\ G float geq_b0 = wpt[1]; \\ k2 floatgeq_b1 = wpt[2]; \\ k1(1+k2) float ap_output; int i; for (i = 0; i <NSAMPLES; i++) { ap_output = geq_b0 * (*input − yv[0]) + geq_b1 * (xv[1]− yv[1]) + xv[0]; xv[0] = xv[1]; \\ update xv[1] = * input; \\ updateyv[0] = yv[1]; \\update yv[1] = *output; \\update *output++ = 0.5 *(1.0−gain) * ap_output + 0.5 * (1.0+gain) * (*input++); } }

The function bell( ) takes as arguments pointers to arrays xv (the “x”state variables), yv (the “y” state variables), wpt (which contains thethree graphic EQ parameters G, k2, and k1(1+k2)), a block of inputsamples “input”, and a place to store the output samples. The first fourstatements in the above code snippet are simple assignment statementsand need no explanation.

The for loop is executed NSAMPLES times, where NSAMPLES is the size ofthe block of input data. The next statement does the following:

ap _(output) =geq _(b0)*(*input−yv[0])+geq _(b1)*(xv[1]−yv[1])+xv[0]

The above statement computes the output of the allpass filter asdescribed above. The next four statements do the following:

xv[0]=xv[1];

shifts the value stored in x[k−1] to x[k−2].

xv[1]=*input;

shifts the value of input[k] to x[k−1].

yv[0]=yv[1];

shifts the value stored in y[k−1] to y[k−2].

yv[1]=*output;

shifts the value of output[k], the output of the allpass filter, toy[k−1].

Finally, the output of the bell filter is computed as

*output++=0.5*(1.0−gain)*ap_output+0.5*(1.0+gain)*(*input++);

First compressor 104 and second compressor 108, described above, may beimplemented using a “compressor” function, implemented as follows:

void compressor(float *input, float *output, float *wpt, int index) {static float level; float interp, GR, excessGain, L, invT, ftempabs;invT = wpt[2]; int i, j; for (i = 0; i < NSAMPLES; i ++) { ftempabs =fabs(*input++); level = (ftempabs >= level)? wpt[0] * (level −ftempabs) + ftempabs : wpt[1] * (level − ftempabs) + ftempabs; GR = 1.0;if (level * invT > 1.0) { excessGain = level *invT; interp = excessGain− trunc(excessGain); j = (int) trunc(excessGain) − 1; if (j < 99) { GR =table[index][j] + interp * (table[index][j+1] − table[index][j]); //table[ ][ ] is the exponentiation table } else { GR = table[index][99];} } *output++ = *input++ * GR; } }

The compressor function takes as input arguments pointers to input,output, and wpt arrays and an integer, index. The input and outputarrays are used for the blocks of input and output data, respectively.The first line of code,

static float level;

allocates static storage for a value called “level” which maintains thecomputed signal level between calls to the function. This is because thelevel is something that needs to be tracked continuously, for the entireduration of the program, not just during execution of a single block ofdata.

The next line of code,

float interp, GR, excessGain, L, invT, ftempabs;

allocates temporary storage for a few quantities that are used duringthe computation of the compressor algorithm; these quantities are onlyneeded on a per-block basis and can be discarded after each pass throughthe function.

The next line of code,

invT=wpt[2];

extracts the inverse of the compressor threshold, which is stored inwpt[2], which is the third element of the wpt array. The other elementsof the wpt array include the attack time, the release time, and thecompressor ratio.

The next line of code indicates that the compressor loop is repeatedNSAMPLES times. The next two lines of code implement the levelcomputation

level=(ftempabs>=level)?wpt[0]*(level·about·ftempabs)+ftempbas:wpt[1]−*(level−ftempabs)+ftempabs;

which is equivalent to the expanded statement

if (ftempabs >= level) { level = wpt[0] * (level − ftempabs) + ftempabs;} else { level = wpt[1] * (level − ftempabs) + ftempabs;

which is what is needed to carry out the above necessary equation, withwpt[0] storing the attack constant α_(att) and wpt[1] storing therelease constant α_(rel).

Next, it can be assumed that the gain reduction, GR, is equal to unity.Then the comparison

if (level*invT>1.0)

is performed, which is the same thing as asking if level >T, i.e., thesignal level is over the threshold. If it is not, nothing is done. If itis, the gain reduction is computed. First, the excess gain is computedas

excessGain=level*invT;

as calculated using the equations above. The next two statements,

interp=excessGain−trunc(excessGain);

j=(int)trunc(excessGain)−1;

compute the value of index into the table of exponentiated values, asper the equations above. The next lines,

if (j < 99) { GR = table[index][j] + interp * (table[index][j+1] −table[index][j]); // table[ ][ ] is the exponentiation table } else { GR= table[index][99]; }

implement the interpolation explained above. The two-dimensional array,“table,” is parameterized by two indices: index and j. The value j issimply the nearest integer value of the excess gain. The table hasvalues equal to

${{{table}\;\lbrack{index}\rbrack}\lbrack j\rbrack} = {(j)\frac{1 - {index}}{index}}$

which can be recognized as the necessary value from the equations above,where the “floor” operation isn't needed because j is an integer value.Finally, the input is scaled by the computed gain reduction, GR, as per

*output++=*input++*GR;

and the value is written to the next position in the output array, andthe process continues with the next value in the input array until allNSAMPLE values in the input block are exhausted.

It should be noted that in practice, each function described above isgoing to be dealing with arrays of input and output data rather than asingle sample at a time. This does not change the program much, ashinted by the fact that the routines above were passed their inputs andoutputs by reference. Assuming that the algorithm is handed a block ofNSAMPLES in length, the only modification needed to incorporate arraysof data into the bell-filter functions is to incorporate looping intothe code as follows:

void bell(float *xv, float *yv, float gain, float *input, float *output){ float ap_output; int i; for (i = 0; i < NSAMPLES; i++) { ap_output =geq_b0 * (*input − yv[0]) + geq_b1 * (xv[1] − yv[1]) + xv[0] xv[0] =xv[1]; \\ update xv[1] = *input; \\ update yv[0] = yv[1]; \\update yv[1]= *output; \\update *output++ = 0.5 * (1.0−gain) * ap_output + 0.5 *(1.0+gain) * (*input++); } }

Digital signal processing method 100 as a whole, may be implemented as aprogram that calls each of the above functions, implemented as follows:

// it is assumed that floatBuffer contains a block of // NSAMPLESsamples of floating-point data. // The following code shows theinstructions that // are executed during a single pass scale(inputGain,floatBuffer, floatBuffer); low_shelf(xv1_ap, yv1_ap, &working_table[0],floatBuffer, floatBuffer); high_shelf(xv2_ap, yv2_ap, &working_table[3],floatBuffer, floatBuffer); compressor(floatBuffer, floatBuffer,&working_table[6], ratio1Index); low_shelf(xv3_ap_left, yv3_ap_left,xv3_ap_right, yv3_ap_right, &working_table[11], floatBuffer,floatBuffer); high_shelf(xv4_ap_left, yv4_ap_left, xv4_ap_right,yv4_ap_right, &working_table[14], floatBuffer, floatBuffer);bell(xv1_geq, yv1_geq, &working_table[17], floatBuffer, floatBuffer);bell(xv2_geq, yv2_geq, &working_table[20], floatBuffer, floatBuffer);bell(xv3_geq, yv3_geq, &working_table[23], floatBuffer, floatBuffer);bell(xv4_geq, yv4_geq, &working_table[26], floatBuffer, floatBuffer);bell(xv5_geq, yv5_geq, &working_table[29], floatBuffer, floatBuffer);bell(xv6_geq, yv6_geq, &working_table[32], floatBuffer, floatBuffer);bell(xv7_geq, yv7_geq, &working_table[35], floatBuffer, floatBuffer);bell(xv8_geq, yv8_geq, &working_table[38], floatBuffer, floatBuffer);bell(xv9_geq, yv9_geq, &working_table[41], floatBuffer, floatBuffer);bell(xv10_geq, yv10_geq, &working_table[44], floatBuffer, floatBuffer);bell(xv11_geq, yv11_geq, &working_table[47], floatBuffer, floatBuffer);compressor(floatBuffer, floatBuffer, &working_table[50], ratio1Index);scale(outputGain, floatBuffer, floatBuffer);

As can be seen, there are multiple calls to the scale function, thelow_shelf function, the high_shelf function, the bell function, and thecompressor function. Further, there are references to arrays called xv1,yv1, xv2, yv2, etc. These arrays are state variables that need to bemaintained between calls to the various routines and they store theinternal states of the various filters in the process. There is alsorepeated reference to an array called working_table. This table holdsthe various pre-computed coefficients that are used throughout thealgorithm. Algorithms such as this embodiment of digital signalprocessing method 100 can be subdivided into two parts: the computationof the coefficients that are used in the real-time processing loop andthe real-time processing loop itself. The real-time loop consists ofsimple multiplications and additions, which are simple to perform inreal-time, and the coefficient computation, which requires complicatedtranscendental functions, trigonometric functions, and other operations,which cannot be performed effectively in real-time. Fortunately, thecoefficients are static during run-time and can be pre-computed beforereal-time processing takes place. These coefficients can be specificallycomputed for each audio device in which digital signal processing method100 is to be used. Specifically, when digital signal processing method100 is used in a mobile audio device configured for use in vehicles,these coefficients may be computed separately for each vehicle the audiodevice may be used in to obtain optimum performance and to account forunique acoustic properties in each vehicle such as speaker placement,passenger compartment design, and background noise.

For example, a particular listening environment may produce suchanomalous audio responses such as those from standing waves. Forexample, such standing waves often occur in small listening environmentssuch as an automobile. The length of an automobile, for example, isaround 400 cycles long. In such an environment, some standing waves areset up at this frequency and some below. Standing waves present anamplified signal at their frequency, which may present an annoyingacoustic signal. Vehicles of the same size, shape, and of the samecharacteristics, such as cars of the same model, may present the sameanomalies due to their similar size, shape, structural make-up, speakerplacement, speaker quality, and speaker size. The frequency and amountof adjustment performed, in a further embodiment, may be configured inadvance and stored for use in graphic equalizer 107 to reduce anomalousresponses for future presentation in the listening environment.

The “working tables” shown in the previous section all consist ofpre-computed values that are stored in memory and retrieved as needed.This saves a tremendous amount of computation at run-time and allowsdigital signal processing method 100 to run on low-cost digital signalprocessing chips.

It should be noted that the algorithm as detailed in this section iswritten in block form. The program described above is simply a specificsoftware embodiment of digital signal processing method 100, and is notintended to limit the present invention in any way. This softwareembodiment may be programmed upon a computer chip for use in an audiodevice such as, without limitation, a radio, MP3 player, game station,cell phone, television, computer, or public address system. Thissoftware embodiment has the effect of taking an audio signal as input,and outputting that audio signal in a modified form.

While various embodiments of the present invention have been describedabove, it should be understood that they have been presented by way ofexample only, and not of limitation. Likewise, the various diagrams maydepict an example architectural or other configuration for theinvention, which is done to aid in understanding the features andfunctionality that can be included in the invention. The invention isnot restricted to the illustrated example architectures orconfigurations, but the desired features can be implemented using avariety of alternative architectures and configurations. Indeed, it willbe apparent to one of skill in the art how alternative functional,logical, or physical partitioning and configurations can be implementedto implement the desired features of the present invention. In addition,a multitude of different constituent module names other than thosedepicted herein can be applied to the various partitions. Additionally,with regard to flow diagrams, operational descriptions and methodclaims, the order in which the steps are presented herein shall notmandate that various embodiments be implemented to perform the recitedfunctionality in the same order unless the context dictates otherwise.

Terms and phrases used in this document, and variations thereof, unlessotherwise expressly stated, should be construed as open ended as opposedto limiting. As examples of the foregoing: the term “including” shouldbe read as meaning “including, without limitation” or the like; the term“example” is used to provide exemplary instances of the item indiscussion, not an exhaustive or limiting list thereof; the terms “a” or“an” should be read as meaning “at least one,” “one or more” or thelike; and adjectives such as “conventional,” “traditional,” “normal,”“standard,” “known” and terms of similar meaning should not be construedas limiting the item described to a given time period or to an itemavailable as of a given time, but instead should be read to encompassconventional, traditional, normal, or standard technologies that may beavailable or known now or at any time in the future. Likewise, wherethis document refers to technologies that would be apparent or known toone of ordinary skill in the art, such technologies encompass thoseapparent or known to the skilled artisan now or at any time in thefuture.

The presence of broadening words and phrases such as “one or more,” “atleast,” “but not limited to” or other like phrases in some instancesshall not be read to mean that the narrower case is intended or requiredin instances where such broadening phrases may be absent. The use of theterm “module” does not imply that the components or functionalitydescribed or claimed as part of the module are all configured in acommon package. Indeed, any or all of the various components of amodule, whether control logic or other components, can be combined in asingle package or separately maintained and can further be distributedin multiple groupings or packages or across multiple locations.

Additionally, the various embodiments set forth herein are described interms of exemplary block diagrams, flow charts and other illustrations.As will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art afterreading this document, the illustrated embodiments and their variousalternatives can be implemented without confinement to the illustratedexamples. For example, block diagrams and their accompanying descriptionshould not be construed as mandating a particular architecture orconfiguration.

Now that the invention has been described,

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for processing a signal comprising:filtering the signal with a first low shelf filter; filtering the signalreceived from the first low shelf filter with a first high shelf filter;compressing the filtered signal with a first compressor; filtering thecompressed signal with a second low shelf filter; filtering the signalreceived from the second low shelf filter with a second high shelffilter; processing the filtered signal with a graphic equalizer based atleast in part on a material profile; compressing the processed signalwith a second compressor; outputting the signal to a transducer.
 2. Themethod as recited in claim 1 wherein the transducer is not aloudspeaker.
 3. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said graphicequalizer is configured to selectively adjust the gain of differentfrequencies of the filtered signal based on said material profile. 4.The method as recited in claim 3 wherein the material profile comprisesmaterial characteristics.
 5. The method as recited in claim 4 whereinthe material characteristics comprise surface area, size, shape,rigidity, density, or type of material.
 6. The method as recited in 1wherein the first low shelf filter and high shelf filter are configuredto create an approximate 24 dB differential between high and lowfrequencies in the signal.
 7. The method as recited in claim 1 whereinthe second low shelf filter and high shelf filter comprise gain valueswhich are at least partially inverse relative to the gain values of thefirst low shelf and high shelf filter.
 8. The method as recited in claim1 wherein the second low shelf filter and high shelf filter comprisefrequency values which are approximately equal to frequency values ofthe first low shelf filter and high shelf filter.
 9. A method forprocessing a signal comprising: filtering the signal with a first lowshelf filter, using a pre-transmission processing module; filtering thesignal received from the first low shelf filter with a first high shelffilter, using the pre-transmission processing module; compressing thefiltered signal with a first compressor, using the pre-transmissionprocessing module; transmitting the signal; receiving the transmittedsignal; filtering the signal with a second low shelf filter, using apost-transmission processing module; filtering the signal with a secondhigh shelf filter, using the post-transmission processing module;processing the filtered signal with a graphic equalizer based at leastin part on a material profile, using the post-transmission processingmodule; compressing the processed signal with a second compressor, usingthe post-transmission processing module; outputting the signal to atransducer.
 10. The method as recited in claim 9 wherein the transduceris not a loudspeaker.
 11. The method as recited in claim 9 wherein saidgraphic equalizer is configured to selectively adjust the gain ofdifferent frequencies of the filtered signal based on said materialprofile.
 12. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein the materialprofile comprises surface area, size, shape, rigidity, density, type ofmaterial, and any combinations thereof.
 13. An audio system comprising:a first low shelf filter configured to filter a signal; a first highshelf filter configured to filter the signal received from said firstlow shelf filter; a first compressor configured to compress the filteredsignal; a second low shelf filter configured to filter the compressedsignal; a second high shelf filter configured to filter the signalreceived from said second low shelf filter; a graphic equalizerconfigured to process the filtered signal based at least in part on amaterial profile; a second compressor configured to compress theprocessed signal, and a transducer configured to output the signal. 14.The audio system as recited in claim 13 further comprising a transmitterstructured to transmit the compressed signal received from said firstcompressor.
 15. The audio system as recited in claim 14 furthercomprising a receiver structured to receive the compressed signaltransmitted from said transmitter, the receiver further structured tosend the compressed signal to the second low shelf filter.
 16. The audiosystem as recited in claim 13 wherein said transducer is structured tovibrate a material in order to reproduce sound, the material is not adiaphragm of a loudspeaker.
 17. The audio system as recited in claim 14wherein said graphic equalizer is configured to selectively adjust thegain of different frequencies of the filtered signal based on saidmaterial profile.
 18. The audio system as recited in claim 17 whereinsaid material profile comprises material characteristics.
 19. The audiosystem as recited in claim 18 wherein said material characteristicscomprise surface area, size, shape, rigidity, density, or type ofmaterial.
 20. The audio system as recited in claim 14 wherein said firstlow shelf filter and high shelf filter are configured to create anapproximate 24 dB differential between high and low frequencies in thesignal.
 21. The audio system as recited in claim 14 wherein said secondlow shelf filter and high shelf filter comprise gain values which are atleast partially inverse relative to the gain values of said first lowshelf and high shelf filter.
 22. The audio system as recited in claim 14wherein said second low shelf filter and high shelf filter comprisefrequency values which are approximately equal to frequency values ofsaid first low shelf filter and high shelf filter.